Link to the WSNWCB Home Page link to the About Us page Link to the Weed Laws page Link to the Noxious Weed List Link to the Weed Information page link to the Frequently Asked Questions page Link to the Education page Connect to other Links page Link to Contact Us page Link to employment opportunities page

Class B Noxious Weed

Sulfur Cinquefoil
Potentilla recta
 

Sulfur cinqefoil flower


Plant family: Rosaceae
Year listed: 1994?
Native to: Eurasia

Why is it a noxious weed?
Sulfur cinquefoil can form monocultures over large areas of rangeland, roadside, waste places, and fields. Sulfur cinquefoil is a strong competitor with grasses on rangeland areas. It has a high tannin content, because of this, sulfur cinquefoil is unpalatable to most wildlife and livestock.

How would I identify it?
General Description: Sulfur cinquefoil is a perennial species with a woody rootstock, which can reach one to three feet in height.

Leaves:

  • rough
  • hairy
  • have five to seven toothed, palmately arranged leaflets that are 2-4 inches long by 1/2-1 inch wide

Flowers:

  • found on flat topped inflorescences
  • five light yellow petals surrounding a dark yellow center

Stems:

  • stout
  • leafy, hairy

How does it reproduce?
Information goes here

reproduces by seed, but it can be spread by roots if they are moved by
tillage or on soil-moving equipment

 

Where does it grow?
Sulfur cinquefoil is found on open grasslands, shrubby areas, open forest and logged areas, roadsides, waste areas, and abandoned fields.

What is the distribution in Washington State?

 

 

 

Click on map to enlarge.
  • Sulfur cinquefoil has been documented throughout Washington. Refer to map for distribution levels in specific counties.
  • Distribution map is based on 2003 data.

How do I control it?

General control methods:

Cultural: In productive areas, cultivation with annual crops will control sulfur cinquefoil. Hand pulling or chopping is also effective if care is taken to remove the root crown.

Herbicide: Please refer to the PNW Weed Management Handbook, or contact your county noxious weed coordinator.

Mechanical: Mowing is not effective, roots will send up new shoots.

Biological: Forty-seven species of insects are associated with sulfur cinquefoil in the northeastern U.S. However, because of the close genetic relationship between cinquefoils and strawberries, there is concern with bioagents attacking non-target plants.

For more information
For more information, download our Written Findings.

 

More Photos-Click photo to enlarge
Feel free to download, or contact us to receive high-resolution JPEG or TIFF formats
Sulfur cinquefoil leaf and flower.

 Last updated September 08, 2008