''Comarum palustre'' ( syn. ''Potentilla palustris''), known by the common names purple marshlocks, swamp cinquefoil and marsh cinquefoil, is a common waterside shrub. It has a circumboreal distribution, occurring throughout North America, Europe, and Asia, particularly the northern regions. It is most commonly found on lake shores, marshy riversides and stream margins, often partly submerged with foliage floating. It is a parent of some ''Fragaria''–''Comarum'' hybrids,

ornamental plant Ornamental plants or garden plants are plants that are primarily grown for their beauty but also for qualities such as scent or how they shape physical space. Many flowering plants and garden varieties tend to be specially bred cultivars that ...

s produced by crossing with strawberries.

Description

Its branches spread into leaves with three to seven narrow leaflets which are sharply jagged. The stem is a reddish-brown, low sprawling, vine-like structure. Flowers extend from the branch which vary from red to purple, and are about one inch in diameter, blooming in summer. The stems roots at the base then rises to about .Parnell, J. and Curtis, T. 2012. ''Webb's An Irish Flora.'' Cork University Press.

Cultivation

Swamp cinquefoil prefers

peat Peat (), also known as turf (), is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation or organic matter. It is unique to natural areas called peatlands, bogs, mires, moors, or muskegs. The peatland ecosystem covers and is the most efficient ...

soils but can also grow in moist sandy areas. It flourishes in USDA Zone 3 (minimum ). It grows to about wide by high when cultivated properly. Apis mellifera on Potentilla palustris.JPG, Flower with honey bee Comarum palustre MHNT.BOT.2018.28.25.jpg, Dried seed heads with seeds

References

External links

Jepson Manual Treatment
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Washington Burke Museum
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{{Taxonbar, from=Q161630 Potentilleae Plants described in 1753 Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus