Easy herbaceous plants in almost any soil in full sun or part shade. Poor dry gravels do not suit them in general, (except for P. calabra), but a retentive soil will encourage a long blooming display. There are over 500 species from across the northern hemisphere, including some shrubby species. We grow herbaceous forms, often with attractive divided leaves, 5-petalled flowers, over a long period from late spring, through to autumn.
Including a number of British native species, some such as P. rupestris are very rare, this huge but readily recognizable genus is a great favourite of many pollinators, including bees and hoverflies. Potentilla is one of the known food-plants for the larvae of the scarce grizzled skipper: if you have this butterfly in your vicinity, it is just possible you could attract them to breed.