Potentilla millefolia
Feather cinquefoil, Feather Cinquefoil
(c) Tim Messick, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Rosaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Potentilla millefolia (Feather cinquefoil) is a native California herb in the Rosaceae family, recognized by . Finely dissected pinnate leaves with deeply-toothed overlapping leaflets.
Feather cinquefoil is a California native perennial found in the northeast Sierra Nevada Mountains and Great Basin in vernally wet meadows at elevations of 900 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from April to August, this plant produces white to pale yellow flowers approximately 8 millimeters long with delicate, spreading petals. Growing with prostrate to decumbent stems 5 to 20 centimeters long that are covered in spreading or appressed hairs, it emerges from a thick taproot forming a distinctive rosette. Its pinnate leaves feature 5 to 13 leaflets on each side, typically overlapping and irregularly toothed, with individual leaflets 5 to 20 millimeters long. The plant produces small, smooth tan fruits approximately 1.5 to 2 millimeters in size, characteristic of its delicate cinquefoil structure.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 17 sympatric species. Finely dissected pinnate leaves with deeply-toothed overlapping leaflets.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Vernally wet meadows
Elevation: 900-2000 m
California counties: Lassen, Siskiyou, Mono, Shasta, Plumas, Butte, Modoc, Tehama, Sierra, Nevada
Outside California: Oregon, Nevada
Bloom period
Potentilla millefolia blooms Apr-Aug.
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 millefolia native to California?
Yes. Potentilla millefolia is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Potentilla millefolia bloom?
Potentilla millefolia blooms Apr-Aug.
Where in California does Potentilla millefolia grow?
Potentilla millefolia occurs in Lassen, Siskiyou, Mono, Shasta, Plumas, Butte, Modoc, Tehama and other counties, at elevations of 900-2000 m.
What plant family does Potentilla millefolia belong to?
Potentilla millefolia is in the Rosaceae family, genus Potentilla.
What habitat does Potentilla millefolia grow in?
Potentilla millefolia grows in Vernally wet meadows.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
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.