Wild Strawberry
Fragaria virginiana
A native groundcover that offers the best of both worlds - attractive foliage, delicate white flowers, and tiny flavorful berries that wildlife and humans alike enjoy. This hardy perennial spreads by runners to form dense mats that suppress weeds while providing food for birds, butterflies, and gardeners. The leaves turn beautiful bronze-red in fall, extending the seasonal interest.
Harvest
60-90d
Days to harvest
Sun
frah-GAR-ee-ah vir-jin-ee-AN-uh
Zones
5–9
USDA hardiness
Height
4-9 inches
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Wild Strawberry in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 ground-cover →Zone Map
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Wild Strawberry · Zones 5–9
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
Complete Growing Guide
Light: frah-GAR-ee-ah vir-jin-ee-AN-uh. Soil: Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally Dry. Height: 0 ft. 4 in. - 0 ft. 9 in.. Spread: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.. Growth rate: Medium. Maintenance: Medium. Propagation: Division. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
Flowers give way to achene-dotted ovoid fruits (strawberries) which mature to red fruit, 1/2 inch across. Seeds are embedded in the pits of the strawberries.
Color: Red/Burgundy. Type: Berry. Length: < 1 inch. Width: < 1 inch.
Garden value: Edible
Harvest time: Summer
Bloom time: Spring
Edibility: Wild strawberries have a sweet tart flavor.
History & Origin
Origin: East Canada to Northern and Eastern United States and Mexico
Advantages
- +Disease resistance: Drought, Erosion
- +Attracts: Pollinators, Predatory Insects, Songbirds, Specialized Bees
- +Wildlife value: Members of the genus Fragaria support the following specialized bee: Andrena (Micrandrena) melanochroa.
- +Edible: Wild strawberries have a sweet tart flavor.
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Thyme
Repels slugs and snails that commonly damage strawberry plants
Borage
Attracts pollinators and beneficial insects while improving soil nutrients
Chives
Repels aphids and other pests with strong sulfur compounds
Marigolds
Deter nematodes and root pests while attracting beneficial predatory insects
Nasturtiums
Act as trap crops for aphids and cucumber beetles
Garlic
Natural fungicide properties help prevent fungal diseases in strawberries
Spinach
Provides living mulch without competing for nutrients, similar growing requirements
Pine Trees
Pine needles create acidic mulch that strawberries prefer
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Releases juglone toxin that inhibits strawberry growth and fruit production
Brassicas
Heavy nitrogen feeders that compete aggressively for soil nutrients
Tomatoes
Share common diseases like verticillium wilt and attract similar pests
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Excellent disease resistance as native plant
Common Pests
Birds (beneficial for seed dispersal), occasional aphids
Diseases
Leaf spot (minor), crown rot in wet conditions