White Meadowsweet vs Pennsylvania Cinquefoil - TreeTime.ca

White Meadowsweet vs Pennsylvania Cinquefoil

Spiraea alba

Potentilla pensylvanica

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

White Meadowsweet
Pennsylvania Cinquefoil

White Meadowsweet is a woody, deciduous shrub that begins to bloom in early summer with small white and pink flowers. Its foliage turns from a light green into an attractive golden-yellow later in the fall.

The White Meadowsweet, also known as Mead-Wort or Bride-Wort, is favored by birds and butterflies but is largely ignored by deer. They produce small brown berries in the summer, and while they are technically edible, they are not sweet and are more desired by wildlife.

Pennsylvania Cinquefoil is well suited for naturalisation projects as it is a wildflower native to North America. It is widespread and can be found growing in rocky soils at higher elevations in the mountains and foothills, as well as the dry prairies. The Pennsylvania Cinquefoil is capable of growing in cold, harsh conditions. The bright yellow flowers are found at the top of long stalks in small dense clusters and are ideal for attracting pollinators.

White Meadowsweet Quick Facts

Pennsylvania Cinquefoil Quick Facts

Zone: 3a
Zone: 1a
Height: 1.2 m (4 ft)
Height: 0.2 m (0.5 ft)
Spread: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Spread: 0.0 m (0.1 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: dry, normal
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: fast
Life span: short
Life span: short
Suckering: high
Suckering: medium


Fall colour: golden yellow
Flowers: white, small
Flowers: yellow
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, PE
Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, YT, NT
Other Names: mead wort, meadowsweet, narrowleaf meadowsweet, pale bridewort, pipestem
Other Names: prairie cinquefoil