Potentilla 'Happy Face®'

Pépinière Lemay Nursery

$36.99
Title

A true breakthrough in garden performance, this series is famous for producing "hundreds of flowers" that are significantly larger and brighter than traditional varieties. These dense, mounded shrubs act as nonstop blooming machines, smothering themselves in vibrant color from late spring until the first frost. Whether it’s the brilliant gold of ‘Yellow’, the crisp purity of ‘White’, or the unique bicolour apple-blossom look of ‘Hearts’, these plants provide a cheerful, "happy face" to any sunny garden spot.

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Plant Details

Mature Size:

2-3' H x 2-3' W

Zone:

2-7

Watering:

Low to Medium

Foliage Type:

Deciduous

Growth Rate:

Slow - Moderate

Light:

Full Sun/Part Sun

Plant Profile

Common Names:

Happy Face Potentilla, Shrubby Cinquefoil, Bush Cinquefoil, Tundra Rose

Scientific Name:

Potentilla fruticosa (also known as Dasiphora fruticosa)

Type:

Ornamental Deciduous Shrub

Growth Details:

  • Mature Size: Typically 2–3 feet tall and wide (some varieties up to 3' H x 4' W).
  • Growth Habit: Mounded and dense.
  • Form: Multi-stemmed and rounded.
  • Growth Rate: Slow to Medium.
  • Longevity: Approximately 30 years.

Environmental Needs:

  • Exposure: Full Sun to Part Sun.
  • Soil Preferences: Not finicky; grows in various soil types provided they are well-drained.
  • Soil Tolerance: Excellent tolerance for rocky, sandy, or poor soils and alkaline pH.
  • Watering: Moderate watering until established; survives well on natural rainfall thereafter.

Special Features:

Extremely Cold Hardy; Deer Resistant (Certified Deer Proof by Proven Winners); Pollinator Friendly; Salt Tolerant; Long Blooming.

Care Guide

Ornamental & Landscape Value

Seasonal Interest:

  • Bloom Info: Extra-large flowers (yellow, white, pink, or orange) from late spring through frost.
  • Fall Colour: Foliage is typically green and does not have significant fall colour.
  • Bark: Tidy winter appearance with multi-stemmed structure.
  • Fruit: Inconspicuous seeds.

Garden Value:

Perfect for mass plantings, informal hedges, edging, and foundation plantings. Their compact size also makes them excellent for containers and rock gardens.

Wildlife & Human Value:

  • Wildlife Value: Magnet for bees and butterflies; provides cover for small beneficial insects.
  • Human Value: Low-maintenance beauty for busy homeowners; excellent for erosion control on slopes and fire-wise landscaping.

Planting & Care Guide

Planting Considerations:

  • Best Time To Plant: Spring or early fall.
  • Spacing: 2–3 feet apart for hedges/massing.
  • Location Tips: Avoid waterlogged sites; highly salt-tolerant for roadside planting.

Care:

  • Light Requirements: Best in full sun (6+ hours) for the most prolific blooms, but they also perform well in partial shade.
  • Moisture Requirements: Prefers moist, well-drained soil but is highly adaptable and drought-tolerant once established.
  • Maintenance & Fertilization: Very low maintenance. Apply a granular rose or balanced slow-release fertilizer in early spring.

Tolerances:

Drought, cold (Zone 2), salt, poor soil, and urban pollution.

Tips For Success:

To keep the plant full and vigorous, prune off about one-third of the oldest branches to the ground in late winter. For a denser look, you can shear the plant by half in early spring to encourage new, flower-heavy growth.

Fruit Profile