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Herbaceous Perennial

Coptis quinquefolia

five-leaved goldthread

A low-growing, evergreen perennial to 15cm,with shiny leaves up to 10cm across, divided into five leaflets. Solitary, white, five-petalled flowers are produced in late spring

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

5–10 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Loam

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Partial shade

Aspect

West–facing or East–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Ranunculaceae
Native to the UK: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Matforming
Genus: Coptis are low-growing perennials developing from creeping rhizomes. The small flowers are white or greenish-yellow and the evergreen foliage divided, with two to five leaflets
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Japan, Taiwan

How to grow

Cultivation

Needs moist but well-drained, acid, humus-rich soil in partial shade. Suitable for a peat bed or alpine house

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown as soon as ripe, or by division in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Patio and container plants
Underplanting of roses and shrubs
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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