Wild Strawberry
By Lise Fracalossi
Fragaria virginiana
Native to: All New England
Life cycle: Perennial
Light: Full Sun to Full Shade
Soil Moisture: Medium-Wet to Dry
Height: 2-6”
Spread: 1-2’
Spacing: 3-10”
Blooms: Apr-Jun
Bloom Color: White
Fruits: Jun-Jul
Fruit Color: Red
Natural Habitat: Meadows, woodland edges, and roadsides with moist to dry, sandy, or gravelly soils
Pairs Well With: Partridge pea, cranesbill geranium, red columbine, and Northeastern beardtongue
Benefits: Bird Favorite, Deer/Rabbit Resistant, Edible Fruits, Urban Environment, Drought Tolerant, Host Plant, Pollinator Favorite, Erosion Control, Low Maintenance
“Small, white flowers with yellow centers brighten the spring landscape and attract pollinating insects. Low, evergreen tripled-leaved rosettes carpet the ground. In July, lots of juicy red berries cover the plants. Edible to wildlife and people. Makes a great ground cover or meadow plant.”
–Wild Seed Project
“Fragaria virginiana supports 75 different species of butterflies and moths (Lepidopterans) throughout their life cycles, supplying food for caterpillars and nectar for adult insects. It also supports numerous other types of insects, and the fruits attract chipmunks, squirrels, and birds. Its flowers are accessible to short-tongued bees.”
–Native Plant Trust