Fivefinger Chickensage: A Rare Western Native with Limited Garden Information
If you’re searching for information about fivefinger chickensage (Vesicarpa potentilloides var. nitrophilum), you’ve stumbled upon one of the more elusive native plants of the American West. This perennial forb represents a fascinating example of how some native species remain largely under the radar, even among dedicated native plant enthusiasts.
What Is Fivefinger Chickensage?
Fivefinger chickensage is a perennial herbaceous plant native to three western states: California, Idaho, and Nevada. As a forb, it lacks significant woody tissue and maintains its perennating buds at or below ground surface, helping it survive harsh conditions in its native range.
This plant has quite a taxonomic history, with several scientific synonyms including Sphaeromeria potentilloides var. nitrophila and Tanacetum potentilloides var. nitrophilum, reflecting ongoing botanical classification work in this plant group.
The Challenge for Home Gardeners
Here’s where things get interesting—and potentially frustrating for gardeners. Despite being a native species, reliable information about fivefinger chickensage’s garden performance, growing requirements, and ornamental characteristics is extremely limited. This scarcity of horticultural information suggests several possibilities:
- The variety may be quite rare in the wild
- It may have very specific habitat requirements that are difficult to replicate in gardens
- It simply hasn’t received attention from the horticultural community
- It may not possess significant ornamental value compared to other native options
What We Don’t Know
Unfortunately, key gardening details remain unknown, including:
- Specific growing conditions and soil preferences
- USDA hardiness zones
- Mature size and growth rate
- Pollinator and wildlife benefits
- Ornamental characteristics
- Propagation methods
- Garden design applications
Should You Try Growing It?
Given the lack of available information, growing fivefinger chickensage presents both a challenge and an opportunity. If you’re an adventurous gardener interested in rare natives, this could be an exciting plant to experiment with—but proceed with realistic expectations.
Before attempting to grow this variety, consider:
- Sourcing may be extremely difficult, as commercial availability appears nonexistent
- Without known growing requirements, success would be largely trial and error
- The plant’s rarity status is unknown, so ethical sourcing would be essential
Better-Documented Alternatives
If you’re drawn to native plants from California, Idaho, and Nevada, consider these well-documented alternatives that offer reliable garden performance:
- Penstemon species (beardtongues) for colorful flowers and pollinator appeal
- Erigeron species (fleabanes) for daisy-like blooms
- Artemisia species (sagebrushes) for aromatic foliage and drought tolerance
- Eriogonum species (wild buckwheats) for late-season interest
The Bottom Line
Fivefinger chickensage represents the fascinating world of lesser-known native plants that exist in the shadows of their more popular cousins. While its obscurity makes it challenging for home gardeners, it also highlights the incredible diversity of native flora waiting to be better understood and appreciated.
If you’re determined to learn more about this variety, consider reaching out to native plant societies in California, Idaho, and Nevada, or botanical institutions that may have more specialized knowledge about regional flora. Who knows? You might become one of the first gardeners to successfully cultivate this elusive western native!
