[2] Potentilla versicolor is a herbaceous perennial or near-subshrub growing from a thick taproot or woody caudex.

Its leaves are pinnately compound, with the leaflets deeply palmately divided, and may be covered in sparse, soft hairs.

The exact shape of the leaf and the degree of hairiness can vary substantially between early-season leaves and those produced later in the year.

Like most Potentilla species, its flowers have five bright yellow petals, 15 stamens, and numerous separate pistils, and are adapted for generalist pollination.

They prefer seasonally-wet habitats with little competition for sunlight, such as rocky meadows and rock crevices, and are often found near streams and in snowmelt areas.