Shurrby Cinqfoil (Dasiphora fruticosa)

Dasiphora fruticosa
(Shrubby Cinquefoil)

A resilient and cheerful native shrub, Dasiphora fruticosa lights up the landscape with bright yellow blooms from early summer into fall. It’s a pollinator magnet, thrives in tough soils, and shrugs off drought once established. Ideal for restoration projects, dry meadows, pollinator gardens, and sloped sites, it’s a low-maintenance workhorse with high ecological value.

Characteristics
Type: Shrub
Height: 12–35 Inches
Blooms: June to September
Bloom Colour: Bright Yellow

Growth Conditions
Light: Full Sun
Soil: Moist to Dry, Well-Drained
Habitat: Open Meadows, Rocky Slopes, Stream Banks

Plant Associates:
Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Prairie Smoke (Geum triflorum)
New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus)

Status in Ontario:
Native and secure (not at risk)

Wildlife Value:

• Attracts a wide range of native bees and butterflies
• Provides shelter for ground-nesting insects and small birds
• Seeds may be eaten by songbirds

Fire Tolerance:
Fire-resistant and can be a valuable species in fire-adapted prairie plantings. Tolerates periodic burns and regenerates well in fire-managed landscapes.

Traditional & Historical Uses:

• Used in traditional medicine by Indigenous peoples for its astringent properties
• Historically applied as a poultice for wounds or burns
• Occasionally used as an ornamental in historical prairie homesteads due to its bright flowers and hardiness