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At a Glance
TypePerennial
HabitTrailing
FoliageSemi-evergreen
Height3-8 inches (7.5-20 cm)
Width12-24 inches (30-60 cm) per crown; spreads indefinitely via runners
Maturity1 years
Key Features
Attracts PollinatorsAttracts ButterfliesDrought TolerantFragrant (light)Container Friendly
Native to North America
Maintenancelow
Overview
Fragaria virginiana is a low-growing herbaceous perennial reaching 3-8 inches (7.5-20 cm) tall and spreading indefinitely by stoloniferous runners that root at nodes. Leaves are basal, trifoliate, with toothed margins; leaflets are 1-3 inches (2.5-7.5 cm) long, blue-green to gray-green with a glaucous (waxy) bloom on the upper surface. The terminal tooth of each leaflet is shorter than adjacent teeth, separating it from F. vesca. White, 5-petaled flowers 0.5-1 inch (1.3-2.5 cm) across appear on stems held at or below the foliage from April through June. Fruits are conical to globose strawberries 0.4-0.8 inch (1-2 cm) long, with achenes embedded in shallow surface pits rather than projecting from the surface. Fruits ripen 4-5 weeks after flowering. Plants spread aggressively in moist soils, with a single parent producing 5-20 daughter plants per season. Foliage is semi-evergreen in zones 8-10 and dies back after the first hard frost in colder zones, often turning red or burgundy first. Crowns persist 3-5 years; populations remain perpetual through runner replacement. The species is a parent of cultivated garden strawberry (F. x ananassa).
Native Range
Native to North America from Newfoundland and Yukon south through nearly all of the contiguous United States and into northern Mexico. Found in open meadows, prairies, woodland edges, dry slopes, and disturbed sites at 0-9,000 feet (0-2,750 m) elevation; tolerates a wider range of moisture and exposure than F. vesca.Suggested Uses
Used as a groundcover in meadows, open woodland edges, edible landscape borders, and slope stabilization plantings at 12-18 inch (30-45 cm) spacing. Suited to native plant gardens, prairie plantings, and pollinator gardens; flowers and fruit attract native bees, butterflies, songbirds, small mammals, and ground beetles. Performs poorly in deep shade and waterlogged soils.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height3" - 8"
Width/Spread1' - 2'
Reaches mature size in approximately 1 years
Bloom Information
Flowers open from April through June across most of the range, with peak bloom in May. Individual flowers last 4-6 days; total bloom period extends 4-6 weeks per population. Bloom timing shifts later by 2-3 weeks in northern and high-elevation populations. Fruit set follows flowering by 3-5 weeks.Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
white with yellow centersFoliage Description
blue-green to gray-green with glaucous bloom; trifoliate with toothed marginsGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Water deeply weekly during the establishment phase; established plants tolerate 3-4 weeks without rain in regions receiving at least 20 inches (50 cm) of annual precipitation. Plants flower and fruit poorly in dense shade, with berry yield reduced by 60-80%. Slugs feed on ripening fruit and emerging shoots in cool wet climates. Plants are susceptible to verticillium wilt and red stele disease, particularly on previously cropped agricultural land. Plants self-replace via runners; older crowns decline after 3-5 years and are replaced by daughter plants. Mulch with 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) of straw or shredded leaves to retain moisture and protect ripening fruit.Pruning
Cut back damaged or ratty foliage in late winter or early spring; new leaves emerge from basal crowns within 2-3 weeks. To control spread, sever runners at root nodes and remove unwanted plants. Remove leaves with leaf scorch, leaf spot, or red stele symptoms during the growing season; severely affected plantings can be cut to the ground and renewed from healthy daughter plants.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
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D
winterearly spring
Maintenance Level
lowContainer Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons