Tall Cinquefoil

Year-round

Prairie cinquefoil is a native Ohio prairie and open woods perennial with clusters of creamy white flowers, valued for being tough and drought tolerant once it is established.

• Native to Ohio's prairies, open woods, and roadsides, per the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
• Grows about 2 to 3 feet tall with a long taproot that makes it very drought tolerant once established
• Prefers full sun and average to dry, well drained soil, and is not fussy about soil type
• Blooms over a long stretch from June into September with small white to pale yellow flowers
• Spreads slowly by rhizomes without being aggressive, and stays clump forming
• Virtually pest and disease free once established

Stays upright and clump forming rather than sprawling, and its long bloom period gives a tidy, intentional look in a front yard prairie style bed rather than a weedy one.

Fall

Bloom tapers off into fall, and this is a good window for planting or dividing.

• Flowering can continue into September before tapering off as days shorten
• Fall is a good time to plant, giving the taproot time to establish before winter
• Leave seed heads standing through fall for wildlife and winter interest rather than cutting back right away
• Columbus's first fall frost typically arrives around mid October, which ends the bloom season

Winter

This is a cold hardy prairie plant that needs no winter protection in central Ohio.

• Dies back to a basal rosette or to the ground, depending on the winter, and resumes growth in spring
• Hardy through Columbus's USDA zone 6b winters with no mulching or protection required
• Leaving old stems standing over winter provides some habitat value and winter interest
• No watering or feeding needed during dormancy

Spring

Spring is when new growth emerges and rosettes fill out, ahead of a long summer bloom season.

• New basal rosettes of toothed, strawberry-like leaves emerge as soil warms in April
• No fertilizer needed in average to lean soil, since rich soil can cause floppy growth
• A good time to plant new starts so the taproot can establish before summer heat and dry spells
• Water new spring plantings regularly until established; mature plants need little supplemental water

Summer

Summer is peak bloom season, and established plants handle Columbus heat and dry spells well thanks to the deep taproot.

• Flowers open from June through September, with small white to creamy yellow blooms drawing small bees and other pollinators
• Established plants tolerate Columbus's summer dry spells without supplemental watering, thanks to the long taproot
• Deadheading is optional since seed heads are not especially showy, but removing spent flower stalks keeps the look tidier
• Full sun keeps growth compact; too much shade or overly rich soil can make stems flop