Single pale white flower with a bright yellow center atop a small green shrub, gravel background (informative close-up).

Small green shrub with tiny oval leaves in a black plastic pot on a gravel surface.

Cream moss-rose blossom with a yellow center on a green, bushy Portulaca plant in a pot outdoors.

Close-up of a potted shrub with small bright green, oval serrated leaves on woody stems.

Close-up of a potted shrub with small serrated green leaves and brown stems on gravel in the background.

Potted flowering shrub with small white blossoms in a black container, set in a gravel nursery lot.

Shrub with small glossy green leaves and white five-petaled flowers with yellow centers in pots in a nursery setting.

McKay’s White Potentilla

Crisp White Blooms
Long Summer Color
Compact Rounded Habit

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#3 Container

$41.00

36 in stock

Size

Clear

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$41.00

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We guarantee that your plants and trees will arrive happy and healthy. If you’re not satisfied after receiving your trees and plants, we’ll replace them at no cost to you. Trees and plants are living organisms and require care, maintenance, and protection to survive, root in, and establish properly. Trees that do not survive despite receiving the proper care, maintenance, and protection within the first year will be considered for a one-time replacement. If you purchased plants outside of your growing zone recommendation, or have not properly cared for your new plants as described in your welcome letter, your purchase won’t be covered by our Grasshopper guarantee.
FREE Local Delivery

Grasshopper Gardens offers free home delivery to customers in our local service areas. Experience the convenience of having your plants delivered straight to your home, free of charge, saving you time and effort.

Our local delivery area reaches as far north as Schroon Lake, south to Voorheesville, Glenmont, and East Greenbush areas, parts of Fulton and Montgomery counties, much of Washington County, and all areas in between. If you have questions on local delivery, give us a call at

518-793-9623.
In Stock
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McKay's White Potentilla

Sunlight
Can grow in a range from full sun to partial shade. They need at least six hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight per day.
Watering
Regular watering schedule for the first six months. Once established, rainwater should be sufficient.
Fertilizing
Should not need any extra fertilizer unless your entire lawn and garden have problems and needs regular fertilizing.

McKay's White Potentilla

McKay’s White Potentilla is a compact deciduous flowering shrub with crisp white blooms, fine green foliage, and a tidy rounded shape. Its long bloom season and easy landscape size make it a beautiful choice for sunny borders, foundations, low hedges, cottage gardens, and mass plantings.

Why choose McKay’s White Potentilla?

Choose McKay’s White Potentilla for fresh white summer color in a durable, compact shrub that blends easily with many landscape styles. The bright blooms pair beautifully with evergreens, blue-flowering perennials, ornamental grasses, and colorful foliage shrubs. Its fine-textured leaves keep plantings soft and airy, while the rounded habit fits neatly along walkways, in foundation beds, or grouped as a low flowering hedge. This is a practical choice for gardeners who want long-lasting color without a large, overpowering shrub.

Key Characteristics

Botanical Name: Dasiphora fruticosa ‘McKay’s White’, syn. Potentilla fruticosa ‘McKay’s White’
Common Name: McKay’s White Potentilla, McKay’s White Shrubby Cinquefoil
Plant Type: Deciduous flowering shrub
Growth Habit: Compact, rounded, multi-stemmed shrub with fine-textured foliage

McKay’s White Potentilla Additional Information

McKay’s White Potentilla is grown for its white, five-petaled flowers and long seasonal display. Blooms typically appear from early summer into fall, creating a clean, bright accent against small green compound leaves. The white flower color gives this variety a softer, more refined appearance than golden potentilla types and makes it especially useful in mixed borders where a neutral bloom color is desired.

This shrub is deciduous, so it drops its leaves in winter and returns with fresh foliage in spring. Its manageable size and rounded outline work well in foundation plantings, low hedges, mass plantings, sunny borders, pollinator-friendly gardens, and cottage-style landscapes. Light pruning in late winter or early spring helps maintain a dense shape and encourages fresh growth. Once established, it is well suited to cooler northern landscapes and average garden conditions with good drainage.

Planting & Care

1. Planting: Plant McKay’s White Potentilla in full sun to partial shade with well-drained soil. Set the root ball level with the surrounding soil, backfill with native soil, and water thoroughly after planting.

2. Watering: Water regularly during the first growing season to help roots establish. Once established, it handles average garden moisture well, with deep watering helpful during extended dry periods.

3. Mulching: Apply a 2–3 inch layer of mulch around the root zone to conserve moisture, moderate soil temperature, and reduce weed competition. Keep mulch slightly away from the crown.

4. Pruning: Prune in late winter or early spring to remove older stems, refine shape, and encourage dense new growth. Light annual pruning helps maintain its compact rounded form.

Related Resources

FAQs

How big does McKay's White Potentilla get?
McKay’s White Potentilla typically grows about 2–3 feet tall and 2–4 feet wide, forming a compact rounded shrub that fits well in borders, foundations, and low hedge plantings.
When does McKay's White Potentilla bloom?
McKay’s White Potentilla usually blooms from early summer into fall, producing white flowers over a long season when grown in good sunlight and well-drained soil.
Does McKay's White Potentilla need pruning?
It benefits from light pruning in late winter or early spring to remove older stems, improve shape, and encourage fresh growth. Its naturally rounded habit usually requires only moderate upkeep.

Shipping Details

Estimated Shipping Time: Most orders ship immediately. As noted on the website, some items are seasonal, and may only ship in spring or fall. Once your order is shipped, you’ll receive an email with a tracking number.

Amount of Order	Shipping Charge
Local Delivery	FREE SHIPPING
Non-Local Delivery	Varies based on UPS shipping

Lush Foliage
Full Sun
Flowering

Mature Height	Medium: Up to 4 ft
Mature Spread	0-5 ft
Growth Rate	Moderate
Bloom Time	Late Spring
Botanical Name	Potentilla fruticosa ''McKay's White'
Family	Rosaceae
Flower Color	White
Deer Resistant	Usually
Hardiness Zones	2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Light Needs	Full Sun
Maintenance	Low
Size	#3 Container

Map of the United States with all states shaded green to indicate nationwide coverage or presence.

Growing Zones 2-7 Outdoors

(Hardy down to -50)

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Mature Height	Large: Up to 6 ft	Small: Up to 15 ft	Extra Large: Above 6 ft	Extra Large: Above 6 ft	Large: Up to 6 ft	Large: Up to 6 ft
Mature Spread	5-10 ft	5-10 ft	5-10 ft	5-10 ft	0-5 ft	0-5 ft
Growth Rate	Fast, Moderate	Fast, Moderate	Moderate, Slow	Fast, Moderate	Moderate	Fast, Moderate
Bloom Time	Late Spring, Early Summer	Early Summer	Early Spring	Early Fall, Late Summer, Mid Summer	Early Spring	Mid Summer
Deer Resistant	Usually	Usually	Usually	Usually	Usually	No
Family	Adoxaceae	Rosaceae	Adoxaceae	Hydrangeaceae	Adoxaceae	Hydrangeaceae
Flower Color	White	White	White	Pink, White	White	Green, Pink
Hardiness Zones	5, 6, 7, 8	3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8	4, 5, 6, 7, 8	3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8	3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8	3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Light Needs	Full Sun, Partial Sun	Full Sun	Full Sun, Partial Sun	Full Sun, Partial Sun	Full Sun, Partial Sun	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Maintenance	Low	Low	Low	Low	Low	Low