Potentilla Goldfinger: description and characteristics of the variety, planting and care, application

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

What is Potentilla Goldfinger?

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

Small shrub that grows slowly, reaching a height of 1.5 meters.
With a wide crown, decorative leaves, large yellow flowers.
The root system of the shrub is poorly developed, the roots do not sink deep 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. Potentilla is resistant to frost, tolerates cold successfully, adapts to shady conditions, but at the same time “loves” the sun.

Potentilla 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, direct sunlight. When cultivated in hot climates, it requires abundant watering.

A feature of the culture is its slow growth - in a year it adds only a few centimeters in length, which confuses many summer residents. Potentilla doesn't seem to grow, but it doesn't.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

If we talk about the benefits of a shrub, then 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, temperature fluctuations;
unpretentious care;
good immunity, which means resistance to various fungal and other diseases.

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

Disadvantages of culture and its features:

Slow growth of cinquefoil - should be attributed to the main problems in cultivation.
The plant does not tolerate drought well - if grown in a warm climate, you will need to water frequently.
Stagnation of moisture can destroy the bush, so you have to provide it with a drainage system.
Despite relatively good immunity, shrubs need to be fed.

The main drawback of Potentilla is its slow growth, which can be extremely difficult to accelerate. To reach a height of 30 centimeters, a shrub will have to “grow” for several years, literally half of its life.

Attention! Young representatives of the culture require close attention to themselves, but over the years, the needs of cinquefoil are reduced. The plant does not have to be intensively looked after.

Specific 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 a plant in any convenient place. Consider several options and discuss their advantages and disadvantages:

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

This 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, then “pickle” them with potassium permanganate, it is better to use a weak solution. When propagating cinquefoil by cuttings, it is better to plant a bush with a clod of earth, if this is not possible, then rinse the root system before planting.

How to plant shrub Potentilla?

Landing is done in early spring, following certain rules:

Dig a hole 50-60 centimeters deep in the area.
Fill it with crushed stone or broken bricks, about half way.
The plant is planted, sprinkling its root system with soil.
You can add humus or mineral fertilizer to the hole.

It is noteworthy that the plant does not grow well on acidic soil, for this reason, before planting, it will be necessary 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 feeding.

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

Further crop care

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, weeded in a timely manner.

Irrigation

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

On average, bushes are watered 3-5 times per season. Watering is plentiful, 1-1.5 buckets per plant.

Weeding

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

Feeding

Mineral and organic fertilizers are used as top dressing. The first time the cinquefoil is fed when disembarking, the second - after 30 days. You can repeat the procedures when the shrub begins to bloom.

Most often used humus, manure. On poor soils, abundant top dressing is required.

Cutting

Pruning shrubs in winter, when severe frosts have passed. You can carry out similar procedures in September and April, if you plan to give the plant a decorative look. Shoots are cut no more than 10 centimeters.

Preparing for winter

Since cinquefoil is resistant to temperature fluctuations, you should not cover it with a film. The shrub is not transferred to the greenhouse, they do not create shelters for it.

Combating diseases and pests of cinquefoil

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

Shrub propagation methods

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

Division

Carried out in spring, autumn only in warm regions. It is recommended to act according to the following scheme:

mature shrub is divided into 2 parts with a shovel or a small hatchet;
part of the roots are buried, sprinkling them with soil;
the separated part of the cinquefoil is transplanted into a prepared hole with a formed drainage system, watered and fed.

Shanks

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

Cut off the stiff shoots from the bush you like, so that 3-4 leaves remain on them.
Procedures are carried out in the spring, before the cinquefoil begins to bloom, otherwise the shoots will be painful, weak.
They are treated with a growth stimulator so that the shoots give roots sooner.
Then they are planted in the ground, watered abundantly, used top dressing.
On a sunny day shoots are cut early in the morning, in cool weather you can carry out similar procedures throughout the day.
Store cuttings is not worth it, they are planted immediately, after a maximum of 2 days. Otherwise, the green leaves on the cuttings will die, like the plant itself.

Seeds

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

Layers

It's simple: to get a young plant, you have to act as follows:

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

Use 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 abundant flowering.

Rarely form flowerbeds where cinquefoil is combined with other flowers and shrubs.

Use in traditional medicine

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

Shrub leaves contain a lot of ascorbic acid, which means they increase immunity, stimulate the body's natural protective functions.
Positive effect on the cardiovascular system.

A drink made from Potentilla leaves has long been popular in Siberia. They are brewed fresh or dried. 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, 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.

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