Flower profile
Dwarf cinquefoil
Potentilla canadensis
Dwarf cinquefoil (Potentilla canadensis) is a flowering plant in the Rosaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly April–May across the U.S.
Dwarf cinquefoil is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: New Jersey
Quick look
Potentilla canadensis, the dwarf cinquefoil, is a species of cinquefoil native to North America.
- It belongs to the Rosaceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 26 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as native to New Jersey. NatureServe
- iNaturalist has 963 research-grade sightings of it in New Jersey, ranking #98 among the 186 flowers on our New Jersey list. iNaturalist
When does it bloom?
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
- New Jersey
- Not listed Not on New Jersey Endangered Plant Species List (N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in New Jersey. N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1
- Rare elsewhere
- No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.
Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.
Can you eat it?
None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no edibility or poison notes on its page), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people. NC State Extension
ASPCA's entry “Cinquefoil” (Potentilla spp), which covers the whole genus, lists it as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Eating lots of any plant can still upset a pet's stomach. ASPCA
🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.
Where does it grow?
USDA PLANTS records dwarf cinquefoil in 26 states plus Washington, D.C.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin; District of Columbia.
New Jersey counties with USDA records: Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Salem, Somerset, Sussex, Union, Warren.
Names, range and relatives
Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.
County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 516 counties across 23 states; the most are in Virginia (94), North Carolina (66), Pennsylvania (55).
Other Potentilla on Bloomipedia (3): Mock strawberry, Sulphur cinquefoil, Lesser mock-strawberry.
More from the Rosaceae family (103 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Roses (genus Rosa), Multiflora rose, Black cherry, Toyon, Thimbleberry, Wineberry, Black raspberry, Trailing blackberry.
More New Jersey flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile POCA17.
- iNaturalist, Potentilla canadensis: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Potentilla canadensis (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- New Jersey: New Jersey Endangered Plant Species List (N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1).
- New Jersey: New Jersey prohibited invasive plant species (Invasive Species Management Act; propagation banned from Jan 1, 2027, sale from Jan 1, 2030).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Potentilla canadensis (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension; ASPCA.
- Photo: Mark Apgar via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.