Water
Water regularly to keep the soil consistently moist or waterlogged. Comarum palustre is a bog plant and requires high moisture levels to thrive.
Also known as Marsh Five-Fingers · Purple Cinquefoil · Purple Marshlocks
Marsh Cinquefoil (Comarum palustre) is a herbaceous perennial with a creeping rhizome, native to cooler regions of the Northern Hemisphere. It features reddish-brown flowers and compound leaves.
At-a-glance light, water, soil, and growing conditions from plant data
Prefers full sun to partial shade.
100% intensity
Tolerates some shade, especially in hotter climates.
Keep soil consistently moist to waterlogged.
100% intensity
Thrives in boggy conditions and can tolerate standing water.
Prefers acidic, humus-rich, waterlogged soil. Ideal for bogs, pond edges, or containers with consistently wet conditions.
50% intensity
Prefers moderate temperatures.
100% intensity
Ideal growing range is 15-25 °C.
Outdoor, Aquatic
50% intensity
Fertilize sparingly in spring.
100% intensity
Use a balanced, slow-release fertilizer.
Safety information from plant toxicity data
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Toxic for humans | No 0/5 intensity |
| Toxic for pets | No 0/5 intensity |
| Edible | No |
Key traits and growing stats from plant data
Watering, pruning, propagation, and repotting details from plant data
Water regularly to keep the soil consistently moist or waterlogged. Comarum palustre is a bog plant and requires high moisture levels to thrive.
Prune back dead or damaged stems in late winter or early spring. Minimal pruning is usually required; remove spent flowers if desired to prevent seeding.
Easily propagated by division of rhizomes in spring or autumn. Stem cuttings can also be taken in summer. Sow seeds in autumn or spring.
If grown in a pot, repot every 2-3 years in spring into fresh, moist soil. Ensure the pot has good drainage but is kept in a water-retaining tray.
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Monthly activity intensity for bloom and fruit across both hemispheres.
Flowering & fruiting calendar
Flowering & fruiting calendar
Photos of Marsh Cinquefoil (Comarum palustre)
Common names and botanical synonyms
Botanical classification
| Rank | Name |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Division | Tracheophyta |
| Class | Magnoliopsida |
| Order | Rosales |
| Family | Rosaceae |
| Genus | Comarum |
| Species | Comarum palustre |
Answers based on plant encyclopedia data