Photo of Common Cinquefoil (Potentilla simplex)

View high resolution

Photographer & Copyright

© Daniel Patterson

Photo Source

CC BY 4.0

Inclusion in Plant ID / Comparison Guides

This photo is featured in 2 plant ID/comparison guides:

Common Cinquefoil (Potentilla simplex) vs. European Cinquefoil (Potentilla reptans)

Updated April 29th, 2025

These two species, one native and one introduced, are visually similar and can be easily confused. Both can occur in lawns. They are easily told apart by flower size, and have other subtle differences. The introduced P. reptans is only introduced in some regions, but can be abundant and invasive where it is; it ranges farther west and is more restricted to disturbed anthropogenic habitats with soils near neutral pH. The native P. simplex is common, ranges farther north, and prefers acidic soils and drier conditions.

View Full Guide

Dwarf Cinquefoil (Potentilla canadensis) vs. Common Cinquefoil (Potentilla simplex)

Updated April 29th, 2025

These two native species are visually similar; both can occur in lawns and on dry, acidic soils. They have numerous subtle differences, but because most traits used to ID them are variable within each species, and have overlap, it is important to check multiple traits. P. canadensis is more tolerant of overhead shade, but less tolerant of ground-level competition, and is more limited to drier, acidic soil. P. simplex ranges farther north, west, and slightly farther south, and requires more sunlight, but is more tolerant of ground-level competition, and also ranges into moister habitats and higher pH soil.

View Full Guide