Northwest Blooms · Perennials
Potentilla thurberi 'Monarch's Velvet'
Monarch's Velvet Cinquefoil
- Family
- Rosaceae
- Height
- 24 to 30 inches
- Width
- 18 to 24 inches
- Flower color
- Deep velvety maroon red flowers with dark centers
- Foliage color
- Soft green finely divided foliage forming a loose upright clump
- Bloom time
- Early summer to late summer
- Light
- Full sun to light partial shade
- Water
- Moderate moisture in well drained soil; drought tolerant once established
- Maintenance
- Low; cut back spent stems after flowering to promote continued bloom and maintain shape
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 5 to 8
- Wildlife
- Attracts bees and butterflies
About this plant
Potentilla thurberi 'Monarch's Velvet' forms a clump of finely divided green foliage that creates a light, textured presence in the garden. From early to midsummer, often extending into late summer, deep red velvety flowers with a darker central eye rise on slender stems above the leaves, each five petaled bloom adding sustained color over many weeks.
Native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, the species grows naturally in upland meadows and mountain slopes. In garden settings, 'Monarch's Velvet' lends itself to sunny borders, cottage plantings, and naturalistic designs, where its airy stems weave easily among grasses and perennials.
Works well in
Borders · Cottage Gardens · Pollinator Gardens · Waterwise Gardens
Companion plants
Hellebores · Hardy geraniums · Hostas · Ferns · Astilbes · Foxgloves
Design tip
The long summer show pairs well with plants that peak earlier, keeping one area interesting for months. It takes sun or light shade, which makes it useful along the changing light of a bed edge or a partly shaded border.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at the Center for Urban Horticulture.
