Sibbaldia maxima Plant Care

Sibbaldia maxima Kesselr. ex Murav.

Updated · Sources · How we source care data

Sibbaldia cuneata, the cuneate cinquefoil or five finger cinquefoil, is a species of flowering plant in the family Rosaceae, native to Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Himalaya, China, and Taiwan. As its synonym Potentilla cuneata it has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

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Water

Every 7–10 days

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Temp

50–75°F

Humidity

40–60%

At a glance

How do you care for Sibbaldia maxima?

Water Sibbaldia maxima every 7–10 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it full sun to partial shade. It prefers temperatures of 50–75°F (10–24°C) and 40–60% humidity. Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season.

Where Is the Sibbaldia maxima Native To?

Native range7 countries

What Is the Sibbaldia maxima?

Sibbaldia maxima (Sibbaldia maxima) belongs to the Rosaceae family within the Sibbaldia genus. Sibbaldia maxima is native to Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Himalaya, China, and Taiwan.

Sibbaldia maxima displays a low spreading perennial growth habit, reaching up to 0.5 ft tall with a spread of approximately 1 ft. Sibbaldia maxima produces small white or pink flowers in clusters.

Leaf size: approximately 1 inches.

How Often Should You Water a Sibbaldia maxima?

Sibbaldia maxima requires watering every 7–10 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.

Watering Frequency

Every 7–10 days

Let soil partially dry between waterings

What Light Does the Sibbaldia maxima Need?

Sibbaldia maxima thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Light Requirement

Full sun to partial shade

What Temperature and Humidity Does the Sibbaldia maxima Prefer?

Sibbaldia maxima grows best at temperatures of 50–75°F. Sibbaldia maxima prefers humidity levels of 40–60%.

Temperature

50–75°F

Humidity

40–60%

What Soil Mix Works Best for a Sibbaldia maxima?

Well-draining sandy loam with added organic matter. Good drainage is essential for Sibbaldia maxima to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

How Often Should You Fertilize a Sibbaldia maxima?

Feed Sibbaldia maxima every 6 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.

Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.

Fertilizing

Every 6 months

During the growing season

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

How Do You Repot a Sibbaldia maxima?

Repot every 2-3 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.

How Do You Propagate a Sibbaldia maxima?

Sibbaldia maxima can be propagated through seeds, division. Similar propagation techniques also apply to sibbaldia cuneata plant care, which shares the same genus.

Is the Sibbaldia maxima Toxic to Pets and Children?

Pet safety not verified

The ASPCA does not list Sibbaldia maxima, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.

This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

What Pests and Diseases Affect the Sibbaldia maxima?

Sibbaldia maxima is susceptible to aphids, spider mites, leafhoppers. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Sibbaldia maxima Need?

Sibbaldia maxima grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. Sibbaldia maxima is native to Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Himalaya, China, and Taiwan. In cooler regions, grow Sibbaldia maxima as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.

Hardiness Zone

Zone 12a

Keep exploring plants

Sibbaldia maxima is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.

It belongs to the Sibbaldia genus — compare its care with other Sibbaldia species on PlantoScan.

Sibbaldia is part of the Rosaceae plant family — browse all Rosaceae genera and species.

Sibbaldia maxima thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.

Related Plant Care Guides

Closely related plants with similar care requirements:

Sources

  • Scientific name & taxonomy: Sibbaldia maxima Kesselr. ex Murav., family Rosaceae (first published in Trudy Bot. Inst. Akad. Nauk S.S.S.R., Ser. 1, Fl. Sist. Vyssh. Rast. 2: 231 (1936), in syn.) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
  • Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Sibbaldia maxima, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
  • Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 12a, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
  • Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.

Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.

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