Cinquefoil: plants, effect and use

The cinquefoil has many properties that make it a valuable plant for our gardens. However, it can also appear as an unpopular weed in the lawn.

It is a bit inconspicuous, but the cinquefoil (Potentilla anserina) crosses our path quite often. There is more to the plant than meets the eye at first glance. The medicinal plant is easy to care for and can grow in many locations. Here we show how to plant the cinquefoil and use it in the kitchen.

Cinquefoil: flower, origin and properties

The cinquefoil (Potentilla anserina) is one of our native wild herbs and is widespread in the temperate zone of the northern hemisphere. You can often find the rose family (Rosaceae) in our meadows, on the banks of lakes or along the way. The perennial, herbaceous plant grows with its long runners, the so-called stolons, creeping over the ground. Accordingly, it does not grow particularly high and only reaches heights of between 5 and 15 cm. Rosettes of leaves are repeatedly formed on the reddish shoots and root in the ground. The leaves are pinnate and very characteristic due to their finely hairy, silvery underside. The plant therefore also has other names such as silver leaf, anserine or gander.

The flowering period for the cinquefoil begins in May. The fivefold, yellow flowers can be seen into September. Also worth mentioning is the particular step and cut tolerance as well as the salt tolerance of the cinquefoil, which is why it can grow well on roadsides, for example. This, together with its tolerance for waterlogging, makes it an assertive plant in locations that are problematic for many other plants.

Tip: Since there are many subspecies of cinquefoil, it is now sometimes also part of the genus for a better overview Argentina assigned and thus distinguished from other cinquefoils. It is therefore also under the name Argentina anserina famous.

planting and tending

is common Potentilla anserina found in the lawn. You can also plant the cinquefoil, as it is ideal as a walkable ground cover in the bed. It is ideal for wet, compacted or periodically damp surfaces. The location should be semi-sunny or sunny, the substrate should be rich in nutrients, moist and dense. The cinquefoil is an indicator of waterlogging, because it mainly grows on permanently moist soil. Clay-rich loamy soils are preferred. Very permeable substrates, on the other hand, are rather unsuitable, but can be adjusted with the incorporation of a lot of powdered clay. The best way to prepare soil with poor nutrients is to work slow-release fertilizer into the soil. For the cinquefoil, for example, ours is suitable Plantura organic universal fertilizer, because it brings all the nutrients for the plant and lasts a long time. Due to its high proportion of organic ingredients, soil life is also stimulated. Top-up fertilizing is only necessary when the leaves of the cinquefoil become pale or when the plant is growing in a pot.

As light germinators, the seeds of the cinquefoil should only be one centimeter deep in the soil when sowing. Potentilla anserina can either be sown outdoors in autumn or grown on the windowsill between January and March. The soil should be kept evenly moist. Seedlings should appear after 10 to 21 days, which you can then plant outside from mid-May. Alternatively, you can buy ready-made young plants. In addition, cinquefoil as a common lawn weed may simply be found in the vicinity.

In summer you should water the cinquefoil abundantly, because the plant prefers a moist substrate. Even if waterlogging occurs, this is not a problem for the cinquefoil. Tolerates three or four dry days Potentilla anserina also without problems.

Tip: Cinquefoil got its name mainly because it tolerates high levels of nitrogen. It is particularly common on goose pastures, where there is a lot of nitrogen available through their droppings.

Fighting cinquefoil in the lawn?

Often, but not always, cinquefoils are also found in the lawn, where they are not wanted. But what kind of soil does cinquefoil grow on? The plant is often found on compacted substrates that are damp and sometimes waterlogged. Many other plants, and especially the lawn, cannot cope with these conditions. The goose finger chew can thus spread. Also tolerated Potentilla anserina saline soils.
There Potentilla anserina with its yellow flowers is a pretty splash of color in the lawn, serves as a forage plant for bees and even is used in medicine, there is actually no reason to put cinquefoil in the lawn fight. It is also sturdy, which is why stepping on the lawn regularly is not a problem for the plant.
If you still don't want to live with the cinquefoil in the garden, you should dig up the plant and its roots. You can then use our Plantura lawn repair mending This prevents the cinquefoil from spreading again and makes the lawn look nice and lush again. Alternatively, you can make the soil unattractive to the plant. This can be done, for example, by aeration respectively. Here, the soil is loosened and aerated, which deprives the cinquefoil of its locational advantage.

Harvest, effect and use of cinquefoil

All parts of the cinquefoil plant are used in the kitchen, but the root is the tastiest. For example, you can cut them up and fry them and then use them in a similar way to parsnips, which also tastes like cinquefoil. The leaves taste rather sour, but can be used just as well, for example in soups and salads. Ingredients in the leaves such as flavonoids and tannins help with digestive problems and give the cinquefoil its healing effect. A cinquefoil tea is used, for example, for diarrhea or stomach pain. For this you need about a teaspoon of dried leaves, which you let steep in hot water for ten to twelve minutes.
To harvest the cinquefoil leaves, the time before flowering between May and August is ideal. The roots are harvested a little later, in September.

Is cinquefoil edible or poisonous?

As described above, cinquefoil is edible and can have a positive effect on digestion. Cinquefoil is not poisonous to humans or animals such as dogs, cats or horses. Nevertheless, as with all medicinal plants, the wild herb should not be consumed permanently and in large quantities should take, otherwise the consumption of cinquefoil can lead to side effects such as stomach pain come. People with irritable stomachs should avoid cinquefoil.

The upright cinquefoil, also known as tormentil or bloodroot, can easily be confused with the cinquefoil. The plants are closely related and the flowers in particular look very similar. How one Bloodroot harvests, plants and tends, you will find out in our article.