Potentilla sterilis
barren strawberry
Overview
Potentilla sterilis is a low, mat-forming perennial of the rose family that resembles a wild strawberry but produces dry, seed-like fruits rather than fleshy berries. It grows 2-6 inches (5-15 cm) tall from a short rootstock, spreading by slender runners to form patches 8-16 inches (20-40 cm) across. The leaves are trifoliate, dull bluish-green, and softly hairy, with rounded teeth along each leaflet; the terminal tooth at the leaflet tip is shorter than the teeth beside it. White flowers 0.4-0.6 inch (10-15 mm) wide open from February to May, each with five notched petals separated by visible gaps and a center of yellow stamens. After flowering, the receptacle stays dry and the small achenes ripen without forming an edible fruit. It grows on dry banks, woodland edges, hedgerows, and short grassland, usually on well-drained, mildly acidic to neutral soils. The early flowering and gapped petals separate it from true strawberries. Growth is sparse in deep shade and on waterlogged ground, where the rosettes stay small and flower little. Native across western and central Europe, it is widespread in the British Isles.
Native Range
Potentilla sterilis is native to western and central Europe, from Spain and Italy north to the British Isles and southern Scandinavia. It is common on banks and woodland margins throughout Britain and Ireland.Suggested Uses
Used as a low groundcover in wildlife gardens, on banks, and at woodland edges, where the early flowers give nectar to emerging bees. It knits into short grassland and the front of informal borders.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height2" - 6"
Width/Spread8" - 1'4"
Colors
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
white with yellow centerFoliage Description
dull bluish-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-8 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
Grows in full sun to part shade on free-draining soil of low to moderate fertility. It tolerates dry banks and shallow stony ground once established and spreads slowly by surface runners. A soil pH from 5.0 to 7.0 suits it, and no supplementary feeding is needed on typical garden soils. Waterlogged sites and dense shade reduce flowering and thin the rosettes. Plants can be divided in autumn or after flowering to start new patches. It is hardy to USDA zone 4 and holds a low rosette of leaves through mild winters.Pruning
No formal pruning is required. Spent flower stalks and old leaves can be removed to keep the rosettes tidy. Runners can be trimmed to limit spread.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons