Plant Profile: Potentilla recta

Rough-fruited cinquefoil thrives in natural settings such as roadsides, pastures, and neglected fields, as well as in gravelly spots near railroad tracks and compacted soil along grassy paths or dirt roads. These plants generally have a lifespan ranging from one to ten years. They are capable of self-seeding, with seeds that can germinate within the same growing season. Additionally, the seeds can remain dormant in the soil for up to three years while still being viable. It is thought that the seeds can be dispersed to new locations after passing through the digestive tract of white-tailed deer.