Potentilla rupestris

Linn.

Prairie tea, Rock cinquefoil, Khaltalsa, Polvoi-tchai

Rosaceae Edible: Leaves - tea

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Summary

Potentilla rupestris is a compact self-fertile perennial growing 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in) tall and wide, hardy to UK zone 5. It flowers from May to June and is pollinated by insects. The species accommodates light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils with good drainage, thriving across mildly acidic to basic soils. It grows in semi-shade or full sun and tolerates both dry and moist conditions.

Description

A herb. It keeps growing from year to year. The roots are thick. The flowering stems are 18-45 cm tall. The leaves are the base are 6-15 cm long. They usually have 2-3 pairs of leaflets.

Edible Uses

The leaves can be brewed into a tea.

Traditional Uses

The leaves are used for tea.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

None known.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. In northern China it grows on gravelly slopes between 1,000-1,100 m above sea level.

Where It Grows

Asia, Australia, China, Europe, Luxembourg, Russia, Siberia, Slovenia,

Cultivation

Easily grown in a well-drained loam, preferring a position in full sun but tolerating shade. Prefers an alkaline soil but tolerates a slightly acid soil. Succeeds in dry soils in the wild. Hardy to about -25°c. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer.

Propagation

Sow seed in early spring or autumn in a cold frame. Once seedlings are large enough to handle, prick them out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse through their first winter, then plant out in late spring or early summer after the last expected frosts. For division in spring, larger clumps can go directly into permanent positions, but smaller divisions are better potted up and grown on in light shade in a cold frame until well established before planting out in late spring or early summer.

Other Uses

None known.

Synonyms

P. foliosa.

Also Known As

Skalni petoprstnik

References (7)

Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 201
Hedrick, U.P., 1919, (Ed.), Sturtevant's edible plants of the world. p 514
Hibbert, M., 2002, The Aussie Plant Finder 2002, Florilegium. p 239
http://www.botanic-gardens-ljubljana.com/en/plants
Sp. pl. 1:496. 1753

Show all 7 references