Potentilla anserina L.
Anserina
Silverweed is a creeping native perennial of the rose family, named for its handsome, deeply divided leaves, which are covered in fine silky hairs that give them a silvery sheen, especially on the underside. It spreads by long, reddish runners that root at the nodes to form low, ground-hugging mats, and through summer it produces solitary, bright yellow, five-petalled flowers on short stalks.
About
Silverweed is a creeping native perennial of the rose family, named for its handsome, deeply divided leaves, which are covered in fine silky hairs that give them a silvery sheen, especially on the underside. It spreads by long, reddish runners that root at the nodes to form low, ground-hugging mats, and through summer it produces solitary, bright yellow, five-petalled flowers on short stalks.
It is a tough, adaptable plant of damp and disturbed ground, thriving on tracksides, road verges, grazed grassland, dune slacks, riverbanks and waste places, and tolerating compaction and seasonal flooding well. It favours open, sunny positions on a wide range of soils. The cheerful flowers attract bees and other insects, while the silvery foliage makes attractive ground cover. Its starchy roots were gathered and eaten in times past. Hard-wearing and quick to colonise, it suits damp, well-used ground where finer wild flowers struggle.
Also known as
Goose-grass · Goose-tansy · Silver-feather · Silverweed · Silverweed Cinquefoil · Wild Tansy
In our seed mixes
Beta — under active development. This catalogue is still being built and accuracy-checked. The information here (including plant identifications, British native status, soil and sun/shade preferences) is provided in good faith for general guidance only and may contain errors or omissions. It must not be relied upon on its own — please confirm details with us before making planting, specification, foraging or purchasing decisions, and never eat or medicinally use any plant based on this catalogue alone, as some species are toxic. To the extent permitted by law, Phoenix Amenity Supplies accepts no liability for any loss arising from use of this information.