Fragaria virginiana – Wild Strawberry (DR.DRGHT.EC.GRD.NB.OP)

Ecosystem Services:
(B)-Birds                                             (B&B)-Birds & Butterflies

(BTF)-Butterflies                             (BW)-Black Walnut Resistant

(DR)-Deer Resistant                      (DRGHT)-Drought Resistant

(EC)-Erosion Control                    (EVR)-Evergreen

(FC)-Fall Color                                 (FRG)-Fragrant

(GRD)-Groundcover                      (H)-Host plant

(HMR)-Hummingbirds                (M)-Mammals

(MTH)-Moths                                   (N)-Nectar

(NB)-Native Bees                            (NST)-Nesting Material

(OP)-Other pollinators                 (RR)-Rabbit Resistant

(SHWY)-Showy                                (SPC)-Specimen Plant

Wild Strawberry, is a herbaceous, flowering, perennial and a member of the Fragaria genus, a large collection on plants producing edible fruit. The plant has a low profile of about 5 inches by 2 feet wide and spreads by runners making it useful as a groundcover as well as a provider of edible fruit.

It can also be used as erosion control holding soil on slopes. 

Wild Strawberry is a winter hardy plant and easily grown in fertile, moist to dry, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade, although it does prefer organically rich, sandy loam. This plant likes the cooler temperatures of spring and fall and does not do well in summer heat and humidity or in strong, drying, winds. After setting fruit, the plants may slow down or go dormant in hot summer months.  Plants spread indefinitely by runners that root as they sprawl along the ground and will form large colonies over time.

Supports the specialized bee Andrena (Micrandrena) melanochroa.