Potentilla fruticosa Red Joker - Shrubby Cinquefoil

Potentilla fruticosa Red Joker is a very pretty variety with intense red flowers. It naturally forms a densely branching bush, a little wider than tall. Its fine foliage is bright green in colour and highlights the small single flowers, which appear in late spring and continue blooming until September. Its compact growth allows it to be planted as a border plant or in a pot, where it will decorate a balcony or patio. Easy to grow, in full sun or partial shade, it adapts to most soils and is not at all afraid of the cold.

The Shrubby Cinquefoils are native to the northern hemisphere and belong to the large botanical family of Rosaceae. This family gives us most of our temperate climate fruit trees (Apple trees, Pear trees, Plum trees, Apricot trees, Peach trees, etc.), but also many ornamental plants (Hawthorn, Cotoneaster, Rose of course, Photinia, Prunus...) as well as numerous wild plants that brighten up our countryside. Potentilla fruticosa is an shrub that, with the help of breeders, has produced a large number of charming varieties.
'Red Joker' shines with its unique coloured flowering. Its 5 well-spread petals are an intense red colour, slightly leaning towards dark orange, especially in the centre. These petals surround a yellow-green heart, which stands out from the bright green foliage. Wider than tall, this shrub reaches a height of about 80 cm (32in) at maturity, with a spread of 100 cm (39in) or more, forming a low, spreading cushion with a very interesting groundcover habit. Its deciduous foliage is composed of 3 cm (1in) long, pinnate leaves with narrow leaflets, numbering 5 to 7. The flowering starts in May-June and continues until September, sometimes with a slight lull in August.
This low-growing shrub is not very demanding in terms of soil type, being able to grow in a fairly wide pH range, from slightly acidic to neutral or even alkaline. Its only requirement is that the soil is well-drained, allowing it to grow equally well in moist soil and tolerate some drought.  

Placed at the front of your flower beds, this 'Red Joker' variety will be perfect for quickly obtaining brightly coloured flower beds, worthy of impressionist paintings. Pair it with other brightly coloured flowering shrubs or perennials. Daylilies, with their large star-shaped flowers in bright colours, yellow, red, orange, pink depending on the varieties, will be magnificent companions with simultaneous flowering. Achillea hybride 'Little Moonshine' with its bright yellow flower clusters can be planted at the base of 'Red Joker' to create a striking contrast from May to September. Aster ageratoides Starshine will form a carpet of white star-shaped flowers with yellow centres until October, alongside our Cinquefoil. In a partially shaded area with neutral soil, you can create a charming scene by planting Hydrangea Runaway Bride, a superb Hydrangea with white lace-like flowers, in the background. And to surprise your visitors, try the astonishing Abelia grandiflora Caramel Charm, with its summer flowering in pink and white, but especially with its caramel-coloured foliage in spring, turning golden and then green. This will contrast well with the green and red tones of Red Joker.