Montane, subalpine. Meadows, openings. Summer.
Navajo Lake Trail, July 6, 2004.

The palmate leaf of this very common Potentilla quickly distinguishes it from the ladder-like arrangement of leaves on P. hippiana, another very common Potentilla.  P. Pulcherrima often grows to nearly two feet (although it commonly reclines, as in this picture) and is the most common Potentilla species in high mountain meadows.  Notice that these "cinque"-foil leaves actually have seven, not five, divisions, probably the result of the common hybridization of P. hippiana and P. pulcherrima. 

"Pulcherrima" is Latin for "beautiful split", perhaps referring to the attractive leaves. The seeds of this species were first collected for science by David Douglas from plants "on the banks of the Columbia and the plains of the Multnomah rivers" and were then grown in England.  Douglas named the plant Potentilla gracilis in 1830. The plant has endured dozens of name changes since then; the name Potentilla pulcherrima was given by Lehman in 1830 from a specimen collected by Thomas Drummond in Canada, in about 1830.  Fernald altered these names to the presently accepted Potentilla gracilis variety pulcherrima.

Montane, subalpine. Meadows, openings. Summer.
Navajo Lake Trail, July 6, 2004.

Montane, subalpine. Meadows, openings. Summer.
Navajo Lake Trail, July 6, 2004.
Navajo Lake Trail, September 9, 2004.

The silvery-haired backside, evenly toothed margins, and shiny green top-side of P. pulcherrima help identify it. (The red runners in both photographs and the tri-foliate leaves in the bottom photograph, are those of Wild Strawberry.)

Range map © John Kartesz,
Floristic Synthesis of North America

State Color Key

Species present in state and native
Species present in state and exotic
Species not present in state

County Color Key

Species present and not rare
Species present and rare
Species extirpated (historic)
Species extinct
Species noxious
Species exotic and present
Native species, but adventive in state
Eradicated
Questionable presence

Range map for Potentilla pulcherrima (Potentilla gracilis variety pulcherrima)