Jooni

An exemplary photo of a Potentilla bonsai

Potentilla

1 Species

Species

Potentilla fruiticosa

Potentilla, or shrubby cinquefoil (Potentilla fruticosa, now often classified as Dasiphora fruticosa), is a compact flowering shrub that makes an easy and rewarding bonsai. A Potentilla bonsai belongs outdoors: it is extremely cold-hardy and deciduous, and it needs full sun and a winter dormancy to grow and bloom well. It is an excellent choice for beginners, because it tolerates hard pruning, recovers quickly and forgives most mistakes.

Its standout traits are tiny, finely divided leaves, shaggy peeling bark that gives even young trunks an aged look, and a long display of small five-petalled flowers, usually yellow but also white, orange or pink, from early summer into autumn.

At a glance Potentilla fruticosa

Difficulty
Beginner
Placement
Outdoors
Light
Full sun
Watering
Moderate
Min. temperature
-15°C (5°F)
Foliage
Deciduous

Fertilizing

Feed from spring, once the new leaves appear, until the leaves start to turn in autumn. Use a balanced organic fertilizer or one for flowering plants every 4-6 weeks.

  • Start with slow-release pellets in spring and add an occasional liquid feed while the tree is flowering.
  • Avoid overfeeding, especially with nitrogen, which gives leafy growth and fewer flowers.
  • Stop feeding in winter, while the tree is dormant.

Placement

Keep your Potentilla bonsai outdoors all year in full sun, at least 6 hours a day; in shade it grows leggy and flowers poorly. It is not suitable as an indoor tree, because it needs strong light and a cold winter dormancy.

The species is extremely cold-hardy, but roots in a pot are far less protected than in the ground. Protect the pot below about -15°C (5°F) and from freezing winds, for example in a cold frame or by sinking it into the ground.

Pruning

Potentilla flowers on the current year's shoots and responds well to hard pruning. Do major structural pruning in late winter or early spring, before the buds open.

  • During the growing season, trim long shoots that break the silhouette to keep the tree compact.
  • Pinch new growth lightly; pinching every shoot all summer reduces flowering.
  • Remove dead, weak or crossing branches and thin dense areas so light and air reach the interior.

Young branches can be wired in spring or summer, but older wood is stiff, so shape the tree mainly by pruning. Always leave enough foliage to keep it vigorous.

Repotting

Repot every 2-3 years in late winter or early spring, before new growth appears. Potentilla likes being slightly root-bound, so choose a pot in proportion to the tree rather than an oversized one.

  • Use a free-draining mix of akadama, pumice and lava rock; the species tolerates slightly acidic to slightly alkaline soil.
  • Comb out old soil gently, trim damaged or circling roots and keep as many fine feeder roots as possible.
  • Water thoroughly afterwards and keep the tree out of strong wind and direct sun for a few weeks.

Watering

Keep the soil evenly moist but never waterlogged. Check the soil daily and water thoroughly once it feels dry about 2-3 cm down, until water runs from the drainage holes.

  • Water more often in hot summer weather and less in winter, but never let the soil dry out completely.
  • If you use a humidity tray, keep the pot above the water level.
  • Yellowing leaves and soggy soil mean too much water; wilting and dry soil mean too little.

Seasonal care

  • Spring: Repot every 2-3 years in late winter or early spring before the buds open, and carry out major structural pruning at the same time. Start feeding with slow-release pellets once the new leaves appear.
  • Summer: Keep the tree in full sun and check the soil daily, watering thoroughly whenever it feels dry about 2-3 cm down. Flowers form on the current year's shoots, so pinch new growth lightly if you want plenty of blooms.
  • Autumn: Flowering often continues into autumn; keep feeding every 4-6 weeks until the leaves start to turn. Remove spent flowers along with weak or crossing growth.
  • Winter: The leafless tree is dormant, so stop fertilizing and water only enough to keep the soil from drying out. The species is very hardy, but protect the pot below about -15°C (5°F) and from freezing winds, since roots in a container are far less protected than in the ground.

Common problems

Potentilla is a tough, low-maintenance tree, but a few issues come up regularly.

  • Spider mites: Common in hot, dry weather, they cause speckled, bronzed leaves and fine webbing. Hose the foliage down regularly and use a miticide on heavy infestations.
  • Few or no flowers: Usually caused by too little sun or by pinching every shoot all summer long. Give the tree at least 6 hours of direct sun and allow some shoots to extend during the flowering season.
  • Powdery mildew and leaf spot: A white coating or brown spots appear when air circulation is poor or the foliage stays wet. Thin out dense growth, water the soil rather than the leaves, and remove affected leaves.
  • Root rot: Waterlogged soil quickly damages the fine roots, showing as yellowing leaves and soggy soil. Use a free-draining mix of akadama, pumice and lava rock, and never let the pot stand in water.