- Partial Sun to Full Sun (At Least 5 Hours of Direct Sunlight)
- Height 2 - 3 Feet
- Width 2 - 3 Feet
- Growing Zones 2-7
While you will typically find yellow and pink potentilla on the market for sale, we now have a beautiful pure white potentilla, Happy Face, that sports larger than usual flowers on densely compact dark green foliage. This startling contrast makes the flowers pop out at you from afar, and if you aren’t currently growing this in your garden, you will wander up close to it to find out what this beautiful shrub could possibly be. You are going to want this happy, vigorous growing shrub in your garden bed or landscape. It is so easy to care for and maintain!
Native to North America including Canada, Europe, and in Northern Asia, this cool climate perennial shrub can be found on mountain sides as well as meadows. Hardy in Zones 2 through 7, Northern gardeners can rejoice as this potentilla is perfect for your climate, and Coastal gardeners can rejoice as it is also salt tolerant as well. Deer typically don’t browse on it and it tolerates a wide variety of soil types: rocky, clay, alkaline, dry or poor soils. Give it well draining moist fertile soil, though, for best performance in your landscape. Mass plant this hardy shrub for an outstanding urban or residential display and mix it freely with your annuals for all summer long blooms.
Happy Face® White Potentilla Care
This is a fairly carefree shrub. Plant it in full sun with a little afternoon shade appreciated in hot summer months. It will withstand abnormally cold temperatures, flood conditions and is easy to get established in your garden. Dig a hole about 1 ½ times the size of the root ball and amend the native soil with a little well composted organic material. Cover over with up to 2 inches of mulch to help retain moisture. It grows best in a soil with a pH average of 5.0 to 7.0, slightly acidic to neutral. Apply a rose fertilizer (8-12-4) early in the spring or at time of planting and you should not have to fertilize again for the year. Once established, you should only have to water in extremely dry periods as potentilla are typically drought tolerant.
Prune the plant in late winter, removing the oldest woody branches. Up to â…“ of the volume of the plant can be pruned to keep it in shape. Flowers will develop on new wood, so prune before it breaks dormancy and begins leaf production for best flowering. In extremely harsh or long winters, add 3 to 6 inches of mulch to protect the root zones. If planting in containers for your patio, use a container wide enough to resist being blown over by the wind, and add a water soluble fertilizer and a regular watering schedule to your care and maintenance of this shrub. Potentilla adapt well to a variety of habitats and are a great erosion control shrub with the benefit of looking great while working hard for you.
Happy Face® White Potentilla Spacing
Space plants 36 to 48 inches apart for best air circulation and room to grow. Mature plants will top out at about 36 inches tall and wide. Plant in a hedge row, as a border or massed out in your landscape for the greatest visual appeal. This hardy cold tolerant shrub is also available in a peppermint pink and white flower, Happy Face Pink Paradise Potentilla and would look great in combination with this lovely color variant.
Happy Face® White Potentilla Information
USDA Hardiness Zones: 2-7 |
Plant Type: Shrub |
Sunlight Exposure: Partial Sun to Full Sun |
Mature Height: 2 - 3 Feet |
Mature Width: 2 - 3 Feet |
Plant Spacing: 3 - 4 Feet |
Growth Habit: Mounded |
Flower Color(s): White |
Seasonal Interest: Early Summer Mid Summer Late Summer |
Foliage Type: Deciduous |
Foliage Color(s): Green |
Resists: Deer |
Tolerates: Salt |
Features: Low Maintenance, Native to North America, Continuous Blooming or Reblooming |
Uses: Border Plant Landscape Mass Planting |
Plant Brand: Proven Winners |
Botanical/Scientific Name: Potentilla fruticosa 'White Lady' USPP 22,761 |
- SKU:
- POTWL
Container Sizes
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.
For more detailed information, please click here.
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Plant Addicts Warranty - 1 Year (Extra Purchase Required)

Guide: How to Care for Your New Plant(s)

Planter Shipping
Standard Colors: 2-3 business days
Special Order Colors: 8 weeks - this is due to the planter being custom made with the color(s) of your choice
Please Note: On special orders there can not be any cancellations
Plant Shipping
Time of Order:
Summer Shipping
- If there is extreme heat we’ll delay shipping.
- We’ll have to review what areas the plants are traveling through along with your location
Once your plant is shipped you’ll receive an email with tracking information. Depending on the above criteria we’ll ship your plant(s) towards beginning of the following week from your order. We put together this helpful guide of what to do when you receive your plants in the mail.
It is important to know that all of our plants are clearly labeled for which growing zones the plant can survive in. The plants are thoroughly trialed and tested in every growing zone before we state the plant can grow in a zone. Again, our #1 priority is to ship the plants to you healthy and ready to thrive in your location. So we will do everything in our power to do so.