Potentilla fruticosa 'Limelight'

Description and Characteristics

Potentilla fruticosa 'Limelight' is a compact, deciduous shrub known for its abundant lemon-yellow flowers, neat bushy habit, and long flowering season. A member of the Potentilla fruticosa group (commonly known as Shrubby Cinquefoil), ‘Limelight’ brings cheerful, citrus-toned colour to borders and containers from late spring right through to autumn.

This cultivar produces masses of five-petalled, butter-yellow to lime-hued flowers, each with a soft golden centre. The fine, small green leaves form a dense mound, providing a soft-textured backdrop to the vivid blooms. With its extended flowering period and compact shape, ‘Limelight’ is a perfect choice for low-maintenance planting schemes.

It typically reaches a mature height and spread of 50–70 cm, making it ideal for front-of-border positions, containers, rock gardens, or low informal hedging. It performs particularly well in sunny, free-draining positions and is known for its hardiness and resilience in tough conditions.

• Compact deciduous shrub with lime to lemon-yellow flowers

• Height and spread: 50–70 cm

• Fine, light green foliage forming a tidy mound

• Flowering period: May to September

• Ideal for small gardens, dry borders, containers, and coastal landscapes

Growing Conditions and Maintenance

Potentilla 'Limelight' is easy to grow, tolerates poor soil, and thrives in a sunny location. Its low maintenance nature makes it suitable for gardeners of all experience levels.

• Light Requirements:

  • Prefers full sun for the best flowering and dense growth

  • Tolerates very light partial shade, but with reduced flower production

• Soil Preferences:

  • Grows in well-drained, moderately fertile soil

  • Tolerates chalky, sandy, and even poor soils

  • Avoid heavy or waterlogged soil

• Watering Needs:

  • Water well during establishment

  • Once established, drought-tolerant and suited to dry gardens

  • In containers, water during prolonged dry spells

• Feeding:

  • Apply a general-purpose fertiliser in spring for strong growth

  • Mulch with compost or bark to retain moisture and suppress weeds

• Pruning and Maintenance:

  • Requires minimal pruning—lightly trim in late winter or early spring to shape

  • Remove old or straggly stems to encourage fresh, compact growth

  • Deadheading is not necessary, but removing spent blooms can enhance tidiness

• Winter Care:

  • Hardy in Zones 4–7 (RHS H7)

  • Fully hardy throughout the UK and Ireland

  • Deciduous—drops leaves in autumn and regrows in spring

Garden Uses, Companion Plants, and Pollinator Benefits

Potentilla 'Limelight' offers long-season colour, compact form, and resilience, making it ideal for a wide range of garden settings—from classic cottage gardens to modern minimalist spaces.

• Design Applications:

  • Ideal for front borders, informal hedging, edging, and rock gardens

  • Works well in mass planting for ground cover or as part of a low-maintenance scheme

  • Suitable for urban gardens, coastal planting, and drought-tolerant landscapes

• Companion Plants:

  • Combines beautifully with Lavandula, Nepeta, Salvia, Echinacea, and Heuchera

  • Pairs well with ornamental grasses like Stipa tenuissima or Festuca glauca

  • Complements silver-foliage plants like Artemisia and Santolina

• Container Use:

  • Great for terracotta pots or raised beds

  • Use peat-free, free-draining compost with added grit

  • Water during dry spells and feed annually in spring

• Pollinator Benefits:

  • Flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects

  • Long bloom period provides season-long nectar sources

  • An excellent plant for pollinator-friendly and wildlife gardens

• Pest and Disease Resistance:

  • Very resistant to pests and diseases

  • May suffer minor foliar spotting in overly wet or humid conditions

  • Good airflow and dry conditions keep the plant healthy

We currently only deliver within the island of Ireland, other countries can be quoted for by contacting [email protected] or via telephone on 06964084
 

Standard Delivery is FREE on orders over €250*

All standard deliveries will be completed within 5-7 working days via Fastway Couriers, any delay to this delivery time, the customer will be notified by One of our staff.

The in-Store delivery charge will vary compared with online, in-store delivery charge is done on a case by case basis. 

* Only mainland Ireland addresses qualify for free delivery.
 

Live Plants Delivery

Our live plants are packed with care and diligence by our staff, our horticulturists review each plant before despatch to ensure quality is maintained.
Live Plant delivery charges are not calculated on weight but on the space required per package to ensure safe delivery, so delivery charges may vary as some plants require more space than others when packed.
All live plants are despatched within 3-5 working days where possible, our couriers aim to deliver within 48 hours of despatch from our Garden Centre to allow the plant to arrive in healthy condition.
 

Click & Collect

Can’t wait for delivery? Why not try our FREE Click & Collect service? Simply make your purchase online and collect it from our store located in Croagh Co. Limerick. Our staff will contact you by phone when your order is ready for collection (Please allow 24 hours minimum). When collecting your item, call the store on 069-64084. We will then load into your car as required. This service is available in-store 9am – 6pm Monday – Saturday (No collections on Sundays)

Click here for more information about our shipping conditions.

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If you have any further questions about the online order payment please contact us via ­069 640 84 or mail.