Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
Potentilla fruticosa Creme Brulee™ ('Bailbrule'), commonly known as Creme Brulee™, is a sweet little deciduous shrub that blooms all summer long. The double blooms are bright white with golden centers. The flowers contrast nicely against dark green ferny leaves that provide fine texture to the landscape. This is a tough little shrub that requires little maintenance from you beyond a sunny planting site.
Creme Brulee™ is a multi-stemmed shrub with a rounded shape that fills out to the ground. At maturity, it reaches approximately 4 feet high and 3 feet wide. This flowering beauty attracts many beneficial pollinators including butterflies and bees. It is exceptionally cold hardy, to zone 2, and is tolerant of drought, urban pollution, and poor soils. It is not appetizing to deer or rabbits and has no significant pests. Creme Brulee™ is extremely versatile and can be used in staggered mass plantings, informal hedges, foundation planting, or containers as the ‘thriller’.
Creme Brulee™ Potentilla Care
This shrub grows best in full sun, with at least 6 hours of direct sun exposure. It is not particular about pH level or soil type, although it cannot tolerate boggy conditions or standing water. Water regularly during the first growing season to help the roots settle in, and then reduce watering to once a week during the hot summer months. It does not require fertilizer or special soil supplements.
Prune lightly in early spring before new growth emerges. Cut out dead or damaged branches and reduce the stems by no more than one-third of the shrub’s total volume. Creme Brulee™ does not require deadheading or special winter protection.
Creme Brulee™ Potentilla Spacing
For hedge planting, space shrubs 2 feet apart, measuring between the centers of each shrub. For other plantings, provide at least 3 feet for these shrubs to fill out. Potentillas can also be grown in large containers (>20 inches) surrounded by smaller plants.
Creme Brulee™ Potentilla Plant Facts
Growing Conditions
- Hardiness ZonesGrowing Zones
- USDA Zones 2 to 6 (perennial); grown as an annual elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown indoors elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown in containers elsewhere (grown as a seasonal crop)
- Sun Exposure
- Full Sun (6+ Hours Direct Sun)
- Mature Height
- 3 Feet
- Mature Spread
- 3 Feet
- Growth Habit
- , Upright
- Water Needs
- Average
Flowers & Foliage
- Flower Colors
- , White
- Flower Description
- Double White
- Bloom Time
- Late Spring to Frost
- Blooms On
-
New Wood
?
"Blooms on" tells you which stems produce flowers, which decides when it's safe to prune.
- New Wood: Flowers form on stems that grow this season. Prune in late winter or early spring without losing blooms.
- Old Wood: Flower buds form on last year's stems. Prune right after flowering. Pruning in fall or early spring removes next year's blooms.
- Both New and Old Wood: Blooms on last year's stems and again on new growth, so it flowers even after a hard winter or a mistimed pruning. Prune lightly after the first flush of blooms.
- When to Prune
- Late winter to early spring, before new growth starts
- Foliage Color
- , Green
- Foliage Description
- Green
- Foliage Type
- , Deciduous
- Seasonal Interest
- , Summer Flowering
Garden Benefits
Plant Overview
- Common Name
- Creme Brulee™ Potentilla
- Botanical Name
- POTENTILLA FRUTICOSA 'CREME BRULEE'
- Plant Type
- Shrub
Simple Plant Spacing Calculator
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons
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We want your plants to arrive in great condition! If you notice any issues upon delivery, contact us within 3 days.
Starting January 1, 2026 all bushes, perennials & trees purchased come with an extended 1-year warranty for added confidence. If your plant dies due to a health issue within a year, we’ll make it right.
Plants that are currently in stock typically ship within 2-7 business days after your order is placed.
Plant Addicts ships to the lower 48 states within the U.S. Unfortunately, we do not currently ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or internationally.
This plant cannot be shipped to the following states: AK, HI. These restrictions apply only to this specific plant due to agricultural regulations or other limitations. Other plants may still be available for shipping to these states.
If you have any questions about shipping restrictions, feel free to reach out to our team!