Potentilla (Golden)

Potentilla is another plant that has several names. Silverweed, as an alternative name, is based on the silvery-white colour of the leaves, particularly notable on the bottom side of the leaves of some species. It is also called cinquefoil (meaning five-leaves), indicating the five lobed leaves.

Cultivation

This pretty, trouble-free perennial grows wild in the Alps but is not a native of Britain. One of the outstanding characteristics of this plant is that it is pretty well maintenance free. Insects, don’t seem to trouble this species, which requires pruning only about once every three or four years and it’s not at all fussy about the soil it’s planted in, poor soil or the occasional lack of water are taken in its stride, as long as the potentilla gets enough sun through the summer to flower.

Parts used

The entire plant has a variety of food, medicinal and even livestock uses!

Uses

As a medicinal herb and food the leaves are eaten by cattle, horses, and goats and the starchy root - which is said to taste like parsnips, or chestnuts – is popular in China and Tibet as food, while its leaves are valued in tea. The combination of astringent tannins and antispasmodic action makes it valuable for treating diarrhoea and colitis, since the tannins have antibacterial action, while the antispasmodic effect reduces intestinal contractions. Until the 1930s a distilled water of the herb was popular as a cosmetic for removing freckles, spots and pimples, and for restoring the complexion when sunburnt!

Golden potentilla photograph by ndrwfgg from flickr under a creative commons attribution licence.

 

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