When does marsh cinquefoil bloom?

Marsh cinquefoil typically flowers from June through August, producing small five-petaled blooms in a deep reddish purple shade.

What kind of habitat does marsh cinquefoil need?

It grows in consistently wet ground such as bogs, fens, marsh edges, and wet meadows, and it does not tolerate dry soil for long periods.

What pollinators visit marsh cinquefoil flowers?

Bees and flies are the main visitors recorded on marsh cinquefoil flowers, drawn to the open, low-growing blooms.

Does marsh cinquefoil prefer sun or shade?

It handles full sun to part shade well, as long as the roots stay in saturated or consistently moist soil.

Is marsh cinquefoil a woody plant?

No, it is a herbaceous forb that dies back each year rather than a shrub or tree.

Is Marsh Cinquefoil HOA-friendly?

Marsh Cinquefoil takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Marsh Cinquefoil

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Comarum palustre

Last reviewed: August 2026

Marsh cinquefoil is a wetland forb that blooms from June through August with dark reddish purple flowers, thriving in boggy soil and part shade to full sun.

Toxicity unknown

Marsh Cinquefoil (Comarum palustre) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

Light

part sun

Water

high

Size

12"–24" H × 12"–24" W

Bloom

Jun, Jul, Aug

Native to

CA, CO, CT, IA and 20 more states

Pollinators

bees, beetles, flies

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Marsh cinquefoil is a low-growing wetland perennial with distinctive five-leaflet foliage and dark red flowers that bloom throughout summer. This native plant thrives in consistently moist to wet soils and partial sun conditions. It spreads by creeping stems to form colonies in boggy areas and wet meadows.

In an HOA neighborhood

Marsh Cinquefoil takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

Requires very wet conditions unsuitable for typical landscaping
Can appear weedy and unkempt when not in bloom
Spreads aggressively and may look uncontrolled

Wildlife value

The summer flowers attract bees, beetles, and flies for pollination. Seeds provide food for waterfowl and wetland birds.

Common questions

When does marsh cinquefoil bloom?: Marsh cinquefoil typically flowers from June through August, producing small five-petaled blooms in a deep reddish purple shade.
What kind of habitat does marsh cinquefoil need?: It grows in consistently wet ground such as bogs, fens, marsh edges, and wet meadows, and it does not tolerate dry soil for long periods.
What pollinators visit marsh cinquefoil flowers?: Bees and flies are the main visitors recorded on marsh cinquefoil flowers, drawn to the open, low-growing blooms.
Does marsh cinquefoil prefer sun or shade?: It handles full sun to part shade well, as long as the roots stay in saturated or consistently moist soil.
Is marsh cinquefoil a woody plant?: No, it is a herbaceous forb that dies back each year rather than a shrub or tree.
Is Marsh Cinquefoil HOA-friendly?: Marsh Cinquefoil takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

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Common plant problems, and what to check first

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