Fragaria virginiana
A North American native perennial in the Rosaceae that spreads by runners and bears white flowers and red edible fruit, grows about six inches tall, and was one of two wild relatives hybridized to create the modern domesticated garden fruit.
Common Names
Virginia Strawberry, Wild Strawberry, Common Strawberry
Summary
Fragaria virginiana is a perennial native to North America in the Rosaceae family. It forms a low-growing ground cover that spreads by long, hairy runners (stolons) that root at nodes to form colonies, with trifoliate leaves that have toothed margins and white flowers with five petals; red, fleshy fruits develop as berries with embedded achenes.
Hardiness zones 3–9; prefers full sun to partial shade and fertile, well-drained soil kept evenly moist, but tolerates drought once established. It propagates by runners that root at nodes and can also be grown from seeds or division; patch renewal is recommended every 3–4 years. Commonly used as native groundcover for erosion control and habitat for pollinators and wildlife, and the fruits are edible; leaves have been used to make tea in traditional uses.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
4-9 inches
Spread
12-24 inches
Hardiness Zones
Zones 5a-9b
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally Full Sun to Partial Shade.
Soil Type
Loamy soil that is well-drained and fertile with organic matter.
Soil Drainage
Well-drained soil
Soil pH
5.5-6.5, Mildly acidic soils
Bloom Color
White
Bloom Time
Spring
Foliage Color
Green to bluish-green foliage (often bluish-green or glaucous on the upper surface).
Fall Foliage Color
Red
Leaf Lifecycle
Deciduous
Growth Rate
Fast
Seasons of Interest
Spring, Summer, and Fall
Propagation Methods
Seeds, Layering, Division
Attracts Wildlife
Fragaria virginiana attracts bees, butterflies, other pollinators, and birds.
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- Mill.
- Publication
- Gard. Dict., ed. 8. : Fragaria n.° 2 (1768)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Rosales
- Family
- Rosaceae
- Genus
- Fragaria
Inferior Taxa
Fragaria virginiana subsp. grayana Fragaria virginiana subsp. virginiana Fragaria virginiana subsp. glauca Fragaria virginiana subsp. platypetala