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Wild Strawberry (Fragaria vesca)

Fragaria vesca is a perennial herb that forms a basal rosette and can spread outward by runners.

LightFull sun is preferred; partial shade is tolerated, but shade reduces fruit production.
WaterFragaria vesca prefers moisture-retentive but well-drained soil and tolerates some variation between drier and wetter conditions, but prolonged extremes of dryness or wetness should be avoided.
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Overview

Fragaria vesca is a perennial herb that forms a basal rosette and can spread outward by runners.

Origin and habitat

Fragaria vesca is widespread across the Northern Hemisphere, with sources explicitly including Europe, Asia, and North America in its native range. It commonly occurs in woodland, woodland edges and clearings, grassland, scrub, along roads and paths, on riverbanks, and in disturbed habitats. It is reported to tolerate a broad range of Northern Hemisphere environments and moisture conditions, while not favoring extremely dry or extremely wet conditions; toward the southern part of its distribution, it is reported to favor shadier, cooler settings.

Characteristics

Sources differ on mature size, with the few available indications placing height at about 10–50 cm and spread at about 50–100 cm. The leaves arise from the basal rosette and are green and compound, with serrated leaflets; the petioles and leaves may be hairy. The flowers are reported to be white, typically with petals and with both female and male reproductive structures and yellow stamens. Flowering is mainly from spring into early summer, and in sunny conditions individual plants may continue flowering and fruiting until winter frosts; the fruit is strawberry-like and usually red when ripe, although white fruit has also been recorded.

Light

Full sun is preferred; partial shade is tolerated, but shade reduces fruit production.

Watering

Fragaria vesca prefers moisture-retentive but well-drained soil and tolerates some variation between drier and wetter conditions, but prolonged extremes of dryness or wetness should be avoided.

Growing medium and mounting

It grows in fertile, moisture-retentive, well-drained soil and can grow in clay, loam, or sandy soils across acidic, neutral, and alkaline conditions.

Propagation

Sources differ on propagation: the species can spread mainly by runners, while viable seeds can also germinate and establish new plants.

Common problems

In heavy shade it may continue to grow but produce less fruit or none, while extremely dry or extremely wet conditions are unfavorable. It can tolerate some variation between dry and wet conditions and has a documented RHS cold-hardiness rating.

Identification

Fragaria vesca is a low-growing perennial herb distinguished by compound serrated leaves, white flowers, and strawberry-like fruit; wild forms commonly spread by runners.

Photos

Fragaria vesca
📷 James McNally · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Fragaria vesca
📷 Jörg Hempel · CC BY-SA 3.0 de · source
Fragaria vesca
📷 Ivar Leidus · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

Sources