Potentilla Fruticosa

Jess is in the Garden

I've got a shrubby, semi trailing Potentilla, rich yellow flowers, 2 years old, planted in a raised bed full sun west-facing.

Stupidly misplaced the name tag and can't remember which kind it is exactly, nor when to prune it.

Last year I think I pruned it mid spring and it produced a measly amount of flowers late Summer.

Haven't touched it yet this year - too nervous until you experts out there give me some advice!

Is this a kind that flowers on the current year's growth, so needs pruning BEFORE flowering, or does it flower on the old wood only (?no pruning required?)

RHS is a bit vague - just tells me that Potentillas evn if deciduous (mine is) are Pruning Group 10 - er, yeah! Means nothing to me

*Thank you*

 

 

 

Dovefromabove

Hi, if you look here scroll down http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/profile.aspx?pid=168 you'll find Pruning Group 10 instructions 

Jess is in the Garden

Thanks Dove - I had read that bit already, but it doesn't help me identify whether my Potentilla is the type that flowers on old or new wood, sadly.

nutcutlet

http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/plantfinder/potentilla-2.asp

Try that one, seems more straightforward. I don't think they need a lot of pruning. Your potentilla will almost certainly be a cultivar of potentilla fruticosa. 

Dovefromabove

To be honest I hardly ever prune Potentilla fruticosa, just the occasional light clipping/shearing if needed during the winter to keep a nice shape.  The last one I planted was the white Abbotswood, in my parents' garden about 6 years ago and it's never been pruned -  it's a lovely regular mound about 3ft high and 4ft accross and is a picture throughout the summer and early autumn.

I think Potentiall fruticosas flower on new wood, so if needed I would trim in the late autumn or winter, but as I said - most of the time it probably doesn't need it. 

nutcutlet

They don't do that well for me as a rule. I think 2 of them are in too dry a spot and the other one is too shaded. Maybe I'll get it just right next time.

Bunny ...

I have red, white , yellow and orange and never touch them other than a little stray clip . They are quite new so not exactly brilliant but seem quite happy in my clay soil, they are in sun but ground is pretty moist...unless we have a heat wave

Dovefromabove

Mother's is on a southfacing bank on light seaside soil - it was quite a big plant when we planted it so we gave it loads of water in it's first summer, but since then it's been more or less ignored 

Jess is in the Garden

Heat wave I wish!

Thanks for all your replies - mine is in quite heavy soil in a raised bed with plenty of sun. 

I onlylightly clipped it last year, after it had flowered, but it literally only produced about 5 flowers!

*Dove* If mine is one that flowers on new wood (I think the flowers were in late-ish summer rather than spring) then shouldn't I prune it lightly in early to mid Spring rather than Autumn/Winter, or doesn't it make any difference?

 

nutcutlet

I think Dove's right, they don't need much pruning and autumn/ winter is the time. But you won't kill it if you do it at the wrong time.

Lovetogarden

I've got a creamy yellow one, that grows in shade and apart from taking off the straggly ends that get in the way I never prune it, and it flowers profusely every year.

In fact the poor thing gets very little attention, but it still keeps going and looks a picture, so I leave well alone.

ChrisX