Tormentil.

At a glance

Care level

Easy

Plant type

Perennial herb

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Indoor light

Bright indirect

Water

Every 3 to 7 days

Mature size

15 to 30 centimeters

Growth rate

Medium

Hardiness

USDA 3 to 8

Bloom time

Late spring to early autumn

Care

Keep the soil consistently moist but never soggy to mimic its natural damp habitat. Watch for wilting during dry spells, which signals a need for more frequent hydration. It is a hardy plant that thrives with minimal fuss.

Watering

Water whenever the top inch of soil feels slightly dry to the touch.

Feeding

Apply a balanced, liquid fertilizer during the active growing season.

Pruning

Trim back dead foliage in late autumn to encourage fresh growth in spring.

Repotting

Move to a slightly larger container once the roots become crowded.

Soil

Moist, acidic, well draining soil

Soil pH

Acidic

Temperature

-30 to 25°C

Humidity

40 to 80%

Safety

People

This plant is generally considered non toxic, but it contains high levels of tannins that can cause stomach upset if ingested in large quantities.

Children

The plant is not dangerous to children, but it is best to discourage them from eating any wild plants.

Contact allergens

There are no notable skin irritants associated with this plant.

Airborne allergens

It produces a small amount of pollen that may affect sensitive individuals during the summer months.

Edibility

While historically used in herbal medicine, it is not considered a food plant and should not be consumed without professional guidance.

How to identify it

• Four petaled yellow flowers
• Small serrated leaves
• Slender branching stems
• Low growing habit

Height

0.1 to 0.3m

Spread

0.15 to 0.4m

Leaves

green, deciduous

Flowers

yellow, 1 to 2cm

Problems to watch for

• Powdery MildewCommon
• AphidsUncommon
• Leaf SpotUncommon
• RustUncommon
• Slugs and SnailsUncommon
• Root RotRare

Growing it

Propagation

division, seed

When to plant

spring, autumn

Pair this with other acid loving plants to ensure they all thrive in the same soil conditions.

Grows well with

• Heather · They share a preference for acidic, well drained soils.
• Harebell · These plants thrive in similar meadow environments.

Similar species

• Silverweed · It is a related species with similar yellow flowers but different leaf structure.

Science

Family

Rosaceae

Genus

Potentilla

Order

Rosales

Class

Magnoliopsida

Native range

Europe and western Asia.

Conservation

It is a common and widespread species that is not currently under threat.

It is a hardy colonizer of heaths, moors, and damp grasslands where it can tolerate acidic conditions.

Value to wildlife

nectar source

Pollinators

bees, butterflies

Uses

rock gardens, wildflower meadows, ground cover

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Does it need full sun?

Yes, it prefers a sunny spot to bloom well.

Is it drought tolerant?

It prefers consistently moist soil and does not handle prolonged dry spells well.

Where the name comes from

The name Potentilla comes from the Latin word potens, meaning powerful, referring to its historical medicinal use. Erecta refers to the stems which grow in a relatively upright fashion compared to other species.

Good to know

• It is commonly known as tormentil.
• The flowers are unusual for the genus because they typically have four petals instead of five.
• It thrives in acidic, peaty soils where many other plants struggle.
• The roots were once used to create a red dye.