Potentilla flabellifolia
Fan-foil, fanleaf cinquefoil, Fanleaf Cinquefoil
(c) Brian Finzel, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Rosaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Potentilla flabellifolia (Fan-foil) is a native California herb in the Rosaceae family, recognized by . Fan-shaped leaflets toothed only distally and few large flowers.
Fan-foil is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, high Cascade Range, and Sierra Nevada in moist meadows at elevations of 1,700 to 3,700 meters. Flowering from July to September, this plant produces yellow flowers with petals 6 to 10 millimeters long. Growing with ascending to erect stems 10 to 30 centimeters tall, it forms loosely clustered groups from an openly branched base. Its ternate leaves have three leaflets, with the central leaflet 10 to 30 millimeters long, widely obovate and unevenly toothed along the margins. The small brown or reddish fruits are approximately 1.2 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 18 sympatric species. Fan-shaped leaflets toothed only distally and few large flowers.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist meadows
Elevation: 1700-3700 m
California counties: Fresno, Inyo, Alpine, Mono, Tulare, Madera, Siskiyou, El Dorado, Shasta, Placer, Nevada, Tuolumne, Mariposa, Plumas, Trinity, Tehama, Lassen, Sierra, Butte
Outside California: to British Columbia, Montana
Bloom period
Potentilla flabellifolia blooms Jul-Sep.
How to tell it apart
vs Drymocallis: Potentilla styles stay thread-thin throughout; Drymocallis styles are swollen in the middle like tiny clubs.; vs Fragaria: Potentilla typically has 5+ leaflets; Fragaria has three leaflets.; vs Argentina: Potentilla leaves are green on both sides; Argentina leaves are silvery-white beneath.; vs Ranunculus: Potentilla has compound leaves with distinct leaflets; Ranunculus typically has lobed or divided leaves.; vs Rubus: Potentilla is herbaceous with dry seed clusters; Rubus is woody-stemmed with compound berry fruits.
Frequently asked questions
Is Potentilla flabellifolia native to California?
Yes. Potentilla flabellifolia is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Potentilla flabellifolia bloom?
Potentilla flabellifolia blooms Jul-Sep.
Where in California does Potentilla flabellifolia grow?
Potentilla flabellifolia occurs in Fresno, Inyo, Alpine, Mono, Tulare, Madera, Siskiyou, El Dorado and other counties, at elevations of 1700-3700 m.
What plant family does Potentilla flabellifolia belong to?
Potentilla flabellifolia is in the Rosaceae family, genus Potentilla.
What habitat does Potentilla flabellifolia grow in?
Potentilla flabellifolia grows in Moist meadows.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Potentilla glaucophylla var. glaucophylla — Blueleaf cinquefoil
- Potentilla gracilis — Slender cinquefoil
- Potentilla gracilis var. elmeri — Elmer's cinquefoil
- Potentilla gracilis var. fastigiata — Slender cinquefoil
- Potentilla gracilis var. flabelliformis — Cupform leaf cinquefoil
- Potentilla gracilis var. gracilis — Graceful cinquefoil
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.