Fragaria virginiana - WILD STRAWBERRY
Wild strawberry is a low growing 4-7” tall perennial, and spreads widely by runners (stolons) which root to form new plants. In time will form large colonies.
Edible native wildflower, indigenous to Eastern North America - you can find it in woodland openings, meadows, prairies, limestone glades, etc...
Blooms April/May with white flowers, followed by small red fruits - these are very tasty (fresh or cooked in pies and jams). Cultivated commercial strawberries are hybrid crosses between F. virginiana and south American F. chiloensis.
Prefers medium moist to drier, well-drained sandy loam soils in full sun to part shade. This is a cool-season perennial = grows the best in spring and fall (may have slow growth or become dormant in heat). Hardy in zones 4 to 9.
Ecological value of wild strawberry is very high - it attracts many native bees,flies, small butterflies and skippers, it is host to larvae of several other insects too. many birds feed on the fruits - upland gamebirds and songbirds eat the fruits, including the Ring-necked Pheasant, Brown Thrasher, Eastern Towhee, Veery, and American Robin. Mammals like American Black Bear, Opossum, Franklin Ground Squirrel, Eastern Chipmunk, and White-footed Mouse, also eat the fruits, also Eastern Box Turtle, Ornate Box Turtle, and Wood Turtle.By eating the fruits, these animals spread the seeds to new locations.
Wild spreading plant, so the best use is for naturalizing in woodland gardens, erosion control on slopes.
Picture copyright : Fritzflohrreynolds, Commons Wikipedia
Pot size : square 3.5" x 5" deep pot
Fragaria virginiana - WILD STRAWBERRY
Wild strawberry is a low growing 4-7” tall perennial, and spreads widely by runners (stolons) which root to form new plants. In time will form large colonies.
Edible native wildflower, indigenous to Eastern North America - you can find it in woodland openings, meadows, prairies, limestone glades, etc...
Blooms April/May with white flowers, followed by small red fruits - these are very tasty (fresh or cooked in pies and jams). Cultivated commercial strawberries are hybrid crosses between F. virginiana and south American F. chiloensis.
Prefers medium moist to drier, well-drained sandy loam soils in full sun to part shade. This is a cool-season perennial = grows the best in spring and fall (may have slow growth or become dormant in heat). Hardy in zones 4 to 9.
Ecological value of wild strawberry is very high - it attracts many native bees,flies, small butterflies and skippers, it is host to larvae of several other insects too. many birds feed on the fruits - upland gamebirds and songbirds eat the fruits, including the Ring-necked Pheasant, Brown Thrasher, Eastern Towhee, Veery, and American Robin. Mammals like American Black Bear, Opossum, Franklin Ground Squirrel, Eastern Chipmunk, and White-footed Mouse, also eat the fruits, also Eastern Box Turtle, Ornate Box Turtle, and Wood Turtle.By eating the fruits, these animals spread the seeds to new locations.
Wild spreading plant, so the best use is for naturalizing in woodland gardens, erosion control on slopes.
Picture copyright : Fritzflohrreynolds, Commons Wikipedia
Pot size : square 3.5" x 5" deep pot