Potentilla wheeleri
Wheeler's cinquefoil, Wheeler's Cinquefoil
Geographical Surveys West of the 100th Meridian (U.S.); Humphreys, A. A.; Humphreys, A. A.; Wheeler, George M.; Wright, Horatio Gouverneur (via Wikimedia Commons) · CC0
Family: Rosaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Potentilla wheeleri (Wheeler's cinquefoil) is a native California herb in the Rosaceae family, recognized by wedge-shaped leaflets toothed only distally and recurved fruiting pedicels.
Wheeler's cinquefoil is a California native perennial found in southern Sierra Nevada, San Bernardino Mountains, and San Jacinto Mountains on sandy, relatively moist flats at elevations of 1,800 to 3,500 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces white flowers with petals 3 to 6 millimeters long in clusters of more than 5 blooms. Growing with prostrate to decumbent stems 2 to 25 centimeters tall, it forms rosetted to tufted clumps from a thick taproot. Its palmate leaves have 5 leaflets, with the central leaflet 5 to 25 millimeters long, wedge-shaped and distally toothed along about one-quarter of its length. The small fruits are pale and slightly veined, measuring 1 to 1.5 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 16 sympatric species; key features are wedge-shaped leaflets toothed only distally and recurved fruiting pedicels
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy, +- moist flats
Elevation: 1800-3500 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Tulare, Inyo, Kern, Riverside, Tuolumne, Fresno, Mono
Bloom period
Potentilla wheeleri blooms May-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 wheeleri native to California?
Yes. Potentilla wheeleri is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Potentilla wheeleri bloom?
Potentilla wheeleri blooms May-Aug.
Where in California does Potentilla wheeleri grow?
Potentilla wheeleri occurs in San Bernardino, Tulare, Inyo, Kern, Riverside, Tuolumne, Fresno, Mono, at elevations of 1800-3500 m.
What plant family does Potentilla wheeleri belong to?
Potentilla wheeleri is in the Rosaceae family, genus Potentilla.
What habitat does Potentilla wheeleri grow in?
Potentilla wheeleri grows in Sandy, +- moist flats.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Potentilla anglica — English cinquefoil
- Potentilla anserina — Silver weed cinquefoil
- Potentilla anserina subsp. anserina — Common silverweed
- Potentilla anserina subsp. pacifica — Pacific silverweed
- Potentilla basaltica — Black rock potentilla
- Potentilla biennis — Biennial or greene's cinquefoil
- Poteridium annuum — Western burnet
- Poteridium sp.
- Poterium sanguisorba — Garden burnet
- Poterium sp.
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.