Bloomipedia
Sulphur cinquefoil (Potentilla recta)
Photo: JCorven via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Sulphur cinquefoil

Potentilla recta

Sulphur cinquefoil (Potentilla recta) is a flowering plant in the Rosaceae family, introduced in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly May–July across the U.S.

Introduced in the lower 48

Sulphur cinquefoil is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 4 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in May–July.

46states where USDA records it
4Bloomipedia state lists include it
21,679U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Massachusetts, Michigan, Vermont, Wisconsin

Quick look

Potentilla recta, the sulphur cinquefoil or rough-fruited cinquefoil, is a species of cinquefoil. It is native to Eurasia but it is present in North America as an introduced species, ranging through almost the entire continent except the northernmost part of Canada and Alaska.

  • 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 introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 46 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as not native to Wisconsin, Michigan, Massachusetts and Vermont. NatureServe
  • In Wisconsin, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–July. iNaturalist
  • In Michigan, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–July. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 2,074 research-grade sightings of it in Wisconsin, ranking #69 among the 161 flowers on our Wisconsin list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,929 research-grade sightings of it in Michigan, ranking #84 among the 172 flowers on our Michigan list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,527 research-grade sightings of it in Massachusetts, ranking #98 among the 188 flowers on our Massachusetts list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (2,444 records)
Bloom time in the 4 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
WisconsinIntroducedJune–July2,074
MichiganIntroducedJune–July1,929
MassachusettsIntroducedJune–July1,527
VermontIntroducedJune–July992

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
GNR Not yet ranked worldwide. NatureServe
State rare plant lists
Not listed Not on the official rare plant list in 4 of our 4 states.
See each state
Wisconsin
Not listed Not on Wisconsin endangered and threatened species list (Wis. Admin. Code NR 27.03). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Wisconsin. NR 27.03
Michigan
Not listed Not on Michigan endangered and threatened plants (Mich. Admin. Code R 299.1028, eff. March 20, 2023). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Michigan. R 299.1028
Massachusetts
Not listed Not on Massachusetts Endangered Species Act list (321 CMR 10.90). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Massachusetts. MESA list
Vermont
Not listed Not on Endangered and Threatened Plants of Vermont (10 V.S.A. chap. 123; list of Feb 10, 2022). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Vermont. Vermont E&T list
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?

For peopleNot well documented

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

For petsNon-toxic to dogs, cats and horses

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 sulphur cinquefoil in 46 states plus Washington, D.C.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming; District of Columbia.

Wisconsin counties with USDA records: Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Eau Claire, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jefferson, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood.

Michigan counties with USDA records: Alcona, Alger, Allegan, Alpena, Antrim, Baraga, Barry, Bay, Benzie, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Chippewa, Clare, Clinton, Crawford, Eaton, Emmet, Genesee, Gladwin, Gogebic, Grand Traverse, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Houghton, Huron, Ingham, Iosco, Isabella, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kalkaska, Kent, Keweenaw, Lake, Lapeer, Leelanau, Lenawee, Livingston, Mackinac, Macomb, Manistee, Marquette, Mason, Mecosta, Menominee, Midland, Missaukee, Monroe, Montcalm, Montmorency, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oakland, Oceana, Ogemaw, Ontonagon, Osceola, Oscoda, Otsego, Ottawa, Presque Isle, Roscommon, Saginaw, Sanilac, Schoolcraft, Shiawassee, St. Clair, Van Buren, Washtenaw, Wayne.

Massachusetts counties with USDA records: Barnstable, Berkshire, Bristol, Dukes, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Nantucket, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk, Worcester.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Introduced; Lower 48 states: Introduced.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 1197 counties across 43 states; the most are in Missouri (103), Illinois (92), Virginia (89).

Other Potentilla on Bloomipedia (3): Mock strawberry, Dwarf 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 Wisconsin flowers

Black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis)

Black raspberry

Rubus occidentalis

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in WI
Roses (genus Rosa) (Rosa)

Roses (genus Rosa)

Rosa

★ NY state flower🌷 Garden flower

🌼 Blooms in WI: June–July
Multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora)

Multiflora rose

Rosa multiflora

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in WI: May–June

Sources