Sibbaldiopsis tridentata - Three-toothed Cinquefoil

Sizes available: Landscape plug, 6.00 each or 10 for 48.00, mix and match okay

Basics: zones 2-8, 2-6" x 18", full sun, white bloom in late spring and well into summer, wants a dry, sunny, well-drained spot and given its natural habitat, no winter wet. Happy to freeze and stay that way, please. I imagine pretty lean soil is fine. 

Common names: Three-toothed Cinquefoil, Wineleaf Cinquefoil, Shrubby Five Fingers

Synonym: Potentilla tridentata

Family: Rosaceae

Origin/Distribution: Provinces in Canada east of and including Alberta, the central and eastern U.S. in mountainous and alpine regions, disjunct populations extend into the Appalachian Mountains, also occurs on Greenland, native to Maine

These plants were grown from seed collected in New England. 

Habitat: high elevation on rocks, balds, summits, plateaus, ridges, ledges: open, exposed, well-drained

More: Andrena ziziaeformis and Panurginus potentillae, two specialist bees native to Maine, use this plant. Three-toothed Cinquefoil is good on dry banks where it won't get shaded out. In combination with Geum triflorum, Pulsatilla vulgaris, Danthonia spicata and some of the Sempervivums sounds nice to me. Planting in a trough or container is also a good bet. Has a long bloom time and the leaves turn red in fall. Despite its small stature this plant is hardy and hearty, but good drainage is a must.

Source: Landscape plugs from Van Berkum, grown on at Honey Petal Plants

Image credit: Wikimedia Commons