Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) is a delightful native groundcover that combines ornamental appeal and edible rewards! Low-growing mats of attractive green foliage spread naturally to fill spaces beneath trees, along pathways, and throughout native gardens, creating a lush living carpet in both sun and part shade. In spring, charming white flowers attract native pollinators and are followed by small, sweet red strawberries that are enjoyed by both people and wildlife. Adaptable and easy to grow, Wild Strawberry thrives in a variety of soils and is less prone to fungal and disease issues than cultivated strawberry, making it especially valuable for stabilizing slopes, suppressing weeds, and softening garden edges. Use Wild Strawberry as a shady groundcover in woodland plantings, part shade garden beds and borders, cottage gardens, edible landscaping or permaculture gardens, or naturalistic plantings. Wild Strawberry does spread by stolons (runners). If a strawberry groundcover is desired for a smaller area that will stay more contained, try Woodland Strawberry 'Alexandria'
Photo Credit: Gilles Ayotte