Brewer's cinquefoil

P. breweri is a herbaceous perennial or near-subshrub growing from a sturdy, branched caudex. Its leaves are pinnately compound and covered in soft, tangled, woolly hairs, giving them a more or less silver-blue color. 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. The inflorescences are cymose and usually bear 2-15 flowers. Like most Potentilla species, its flowers have five bright yellow petals, 15 stamens, and numerous separate pistils, and are adapted for generalist pollination. Each flower produces a cluster of achenes if successfully pollinated. It is a taxonomically difficult species that appears to hybridize frequently with other Potentilla spp. The boundaries of the resulting species complex are poorly-understood.

The plants are found in high-montane to subalpine meadow openings. They prefer seasonally-wet habitats with little competition for sunlight, such as rocky meadows and rock crevices, and are often found near lakes and streams. They range in altitude from 1,500 to 3,600 metres (4,900 to 11,800 ft).