Description of Potentilla variety Goldfinger, planting and care rules

Cinquefoil shrub varieties Goldfinger is an ornamental plant that is often planted as a hedge. Gardeners are attracted by the large yellow flowers that decorate the site. Cinquefoil grows slowly, but does not require the summer resident to make serious efforts to care for it. The shrub tolerates temperature fluctuations well and is suitable for mass planting.

What is Goldfinger Potentilla?

Goldfinger cinquefoil has certain characteristics. This is a plant that can decorate an area, attract butterflies, and often acts as a hedge. Visually meets the following characteristics:

1. A short shrub that grows slowly, reaching a height of 1.5 meters.
2. With a wide crown, decorative leaves, large yellow flowers.
3. The root system of the shrub is poorly developed, the roots do not sink deeply into the soil, a maximum of 0.6-0.8 meters.

The plant has special requirements for the soil, but at the same time it is successfully cultivated in the northern regions of our country. Cinquefoil is resistant to frost, tolerates cold successfully, adapts to shady conditions, but at the same time “loves” the sun.

Cinquefoil is unique in that it blooms from late spring to early autumn; it will become a real decoration of the site.

But the bush does not tolerate drought or direct sunlight. When cultivated in hot climates, it requires abundant watering.

A feature of the culture is considered to be its slow growth - in a year it adds only a few centimeters in length, which confuses many summer residents. It seems that the cinquefoil is not growing, but it is not.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

If we talk about the benefits of shrubs, there are many of them:

• appearance - the plant is classified as decorative, which means it will become a decoration of the garden;
• large, beautiful flowers, bright yellow, that attract butterflies;
• resistance to frost and temperature fluctuations;
• ease of care;
• good immunity, which means resistance to various fungal and other diseases.

If we talk about the advantages of culture, then the main thing is the minimum amount of effort that will need to be applied when cultivating the plant. Shrubs are planted en masse. They do not require frequent watering and are propagated by cuttings or division. Cinquefoil is resistant to frost, so it is immediately planted in open ground, even if the seeds are stained.

Disadvantages of culture and its features:

1. The slow growth of cinquefoil is one of the main problems during cultivation.
2. The plant does not tolerate drought well; if grown in a warm climate, it will require frequent watering.
3. Stagnation of moisture can destroy the bush, so you will have to provide it with a drainage system.
4. Despite their relatively good immunity, the shrubs need feeding.

The main disadvantage of cinquefoil is its slow growth, which can be extremely difficult to accelerate. To reach a height of 30 centimeters, the bush will have to be “grown” for several years, literally half of its life.

Attention! Young representatives of the culture require close attention, but over the years the needs of the cinquefoil decrease. There is no need to intensively care for the plant.

Specifics of planting shrubs

When planting shrubs in open ground, you will have to adhere to certain rules. This will help the plant “survive” and adapt to the site.

Choosing a landing site

You can plant the plant in any convenient place. Let's look at several options and discuss their advantages and disadvantages:

1. When a shrub is planted in the shade, it will not have enough sun during the growth period, which will further slow down its development process. But over time, the cinquefoil adapts to such conditions.
2. If you plant the shrub in a sunny place, this will have a positive effect on its growth process. But if the climate in the region is warm and dry, this can lead to certain problems. The plant does not tolerate drought well - a summer resident who has planted it on the sunny side will have to water the bushes frequently so that they do not dry out.

It is more of a northern plant than a southern one. For this reason, it is not cultivated in greenhouses, only in open ground, without fear that it will freeze or die under harsh climatic conditions.

Preparation of planting material

If you use seeds, “etch” them with potassium permanganate; it is better to use a weak solution. When you propagate cinquefoil by cuttings, it is better to plant the bush with a lump of earth; if this is not possible, then wash the root system before planting.

How to plant shrubby cinquefoil?

Planting is carried out in early spring, adhering to certain rules:

1. A hole 50-60 centimeters deep is dug in the area.
2. Fill it with crushed stone or broken bricks, about halfway.
3. The plant is planted by sprinkling its root system with soil.
4. You can add humus or mineral fertilizer to the hole.

It is noteworthy that the plant does not grow well in acidic soil, for this reason, before planting, you will have to reduce the acidity of the soil, normalizing this indicator.

You can plant seeds, but it is advisable to first germinate them in peas or a box. At the initial stage, seedlings will need watering and fertilizing.

Information: planting is carried out in early spring or late autumn.

Further care of the crop

In order for the shrub to grow and delight the summer resident with bright, large yellow flowers, provide the cinquefoil with proper care. It will have to be watered, fed, and weeds removed in a timely manner.

Watering

Stagnation of moisture can adversely affect the characteristics of the plant and lead to its death. Therefore, cinquefoil is watered abundantly only in the dry season.

On average, bushes are watered 3-5 times per season. Water abundantly, 1-1.5 buckets for each plant.

Weeding

Weeds are removed regularly; it is advisable to carry out such procedures after watering. Then you will have to start loosening the soil. Mulching will significantly reduce the amount of effort required.

Top dressing

Mineral and organic fertilizers are used as fertilizing. The first time the cinquefoil is fed when planting, the second time – after 30 days. You can repeat the procedure when the bush begins to bloom.

Most often humus and manure are used. On poor soils, abundant fertilizing is required.

Trimming

Shrubs are pruned in winter, when severe frosts have passed. Similar procedures can be carried out in September and April if you plan to give the plant a decorative appearance. Shoots are cut to no more than 10 centimeters.

Preparing for winter

Since cinquefoil is resistant to temperature fluctuations, it is not worth covering it with film. The shrub is not transferred to the greenhouse, nor are shelters created for it.

Control of diseases and pests of cinquefoil

The plant rarely gets sick, but if the summer is wet and cold, then problems may arise in the form of fungal diseases. In this case, it is worth treating with a fungicide. Cutworms are the most common pest, and insecticides will help get rid of them.

Shrub propagation methods

Reproduction is carried out by several methods, using layering, cuttings, and less often - seeds and the method of dividing the bush.

By division

Conducted in spring and autumn only in warm regions. It is recommended to proceed according to the following scheme:

• a mature bush is divided into 2 parts using a shovel or a small hatchet;
• Some of the roots are buried, sprinkled with soil;
• the separated part of the cinquefoil is transplanted into a previously prepared hole with a formed drainage system, watered and fed.

Cuttings

A complex method with many subtleties and nuances, we will describe it in more detail:

1. Cut woody shoots from the bush you like so that 3-4 leaves remain on them.
2. The procedures are carried out in the spring, before the cinquefoil begins to bloom, otherwise the shoots will be painful and weak.
3. They are treated with a growth stimulator so that the shoots take root more quickly.
4. Then they are planted in the ground, watered abundantly, and fertilizing is used.
5. On a sunny day, shoots are cut early in the morning; in cool weather, similar procedures can be carried out throughout the day.
6. There is no need to store cuttings; they are planted immediately, after a maximum of 2 days. Otherwise, the green leaves on the cuttings will die, as well as the plant itself.

Seeds

They are germinated according to the standard scheme, then planted in a box, kept for several months, and in April they are planted in open ground.

By layering

It's simple: to get a young plant, you will have to proceed according to the following scheme:

• a small cut is made on the young shoot - in the part that comes into contact with the soil;
• the shoot is sprinkled with a small amount of earth, having first dug a shallow hole;
• press the branch with a stone or use wire for this purpose;
• after 10 days the shoot will give roots, during this time it is watered and fertilizers are used;
• It will be possible to separate the young plant from the parent next year; it is advisable to do this in the spring.

Use of the variety in landscape design

In practice, the shrub is used for decorative purposes; it is planted as a hedge.Mass planting of cinquefoil is acceptable, but single plantings also look good on the site due to the abundant flowering.

Less commonly, flower beds are formed in which cinquefoil is combined with other flowers and shrubs.

Use in folk medicine

Potentilla has unusual properties that allow it to be used as a medicinal plant:

1. The leaves of the bush contain a lot of ascorbic acid, which means they increase immunity and stimulate the body’s natural protective functions.
2. Positively affect the functioning of the cardiovascular system.

A drink made from cinquefoil leaves has long been popular in Siberia. They are brewed dried or fresh. The drink is infused in a thermos for 2-3 hours, then filtered and drunk like regular tea.

In the northern regions, it is customary to chew the leaves of the plant and add cinquefoil to various salads as a vitamin component. The taste of the decoction, like the leaves themselves, has a pleasant taste with a hint of sourness.

Cinquefoil is a medium-sized shrub that grows slowly and does not require special care. The plant is very unpretentious and is resistant to frost and disease. But, despite all the advantages, it needs watering, fertilizing and other measures aimed at caring for it. Choose a suitable place for the cinquefoil, water it, use fertilizers - as a result, an ornamental bush with yellow, large flowers will grow on the site.