Prairie Cinquefoil
Drymocallis arguta
Last reviewed: September 2026
Drymocallis arguta is a tall prairie forb that blooms from June through August with clusters of white flowers on sticky, hairy stems. It thrives in open prairies, rocky slopes and dry meadows under full sun with low water needs.
Toxicity unknown
Prairie Cinquefoil (Drymocallis arguta) 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
full sun
Water
low
Size
12"–24" H × 12"–18" W
Bloom
Jun, Jul, Aug
Native to
AR, CO, IA, IL and 23 more states
Pollinators
bees, beetles
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
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Drymocallis arguta is a compact native perennial that produces clusters of small white or cream flowers from June through August. This drought-tolerant plant forms neat clumps with attractive compound leaves and thrives in sunny locations with minimal watering once established.
Growing Prairie Cinquefoil
Grow Prairie Cinquefoil in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 12 to 24 inches tall and spread 12 to 18 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Prairie Cinquefoil is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 3 out of 5.
Works well in: front yard, foundation, mid zone.
- May appear sparse or weedy to neighbors unfamiliar with native plants
- Winter dormancy leaves bare spots
Wildlife value
The summer blooms attract native bees and beetles, providing nectar and pollen during the peak growing season.
Common questions
- When does Prairie Cinquefoil bloom?
- Drymocallis arguta typically flowers from June through August, producing clusters of small white blossoms atop tall, sticky-hairy stems.
- What kind of light and water does this plant need?
- It grows best in full sun and tolerates low water conditions, making it well suited to dry, open sites such as prairies and rocky slopes.
- What pollinators visit Prairie Cinquefoil?
- Bees and beetles are the main visitors to its flowers, drawn to the open blooms for pollen during the summer bloom period.
- Is Drymocallis arguta a shrub or an herbaceous plant?
- It is a forb, an herbaceous perennial that dies back to the ground each year rather than maintaining woody growth.
- What habitats suit this plant best?
- It grows well in prairies, open woodlands, meadows and rocky or gravelly slopes where drainage is good and competition from taller plants is limited.
- Is Prairie Cinquefoil HOA-friendly?
- Prairie Cinquefoil is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Prairie Cinquefoil? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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