Wild strawberry (Fragaria vesca) is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the Rosaceae family. Other common names include alpine strawberry, woodland strawberry, Carpathian strawberry, European strawberry and fraisier des bois. It is commonly found throughout the Northern Hemisphere in woodland, hedgerows, grassy banks and grassland areas. The earliest archeological evidence of wild strawberries in Britain was during the Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age).
Plants are very similar to the cultivated garden varieties (Fragaria x ananassa) but the fruit is very much smaller, produces a distinctive perfume and an intensely rich flavour.
Plants produce creamy white flowers in May to June and deep red fruit from June to September. They are one of the first fruits to ripen in the wild. They enjoy moist positions and are hardy but will grow in full sun and partial shade. They prefer alkaline soil and do well in a chalky areas. Wild strawberries, if left to their own devices in an area they like, will do very well without any intervention. In fact, this is why we like wild plants so much. They are not delicate and don't, generally, require a lot of fuss. Given half a chance they will colonise a crack in the pavement and often grow in very little soil.
Wild strawberries propagate in the wild by seed dispersal and there are around 150 seeds (called achenes) on the outer surface of each fruit. Plants also spread prolifically by runners and these are one of the easiest ways of propagating the wild strawberry for home use.
To grow from seed, sow the tiny seed in pots or trays under cover. Be careful not to lose them due to heavy watering. Spread a fine layer of compost over the seed, water carefully and keep at a constant 15-21°C for successful germination within two to three weeks. Once the seedlings are large enough, pot them on into large containers and harden them off. Place in their final growing position as soon as possible.
To grow from runners (stolens), remove runners from the plant during early summer onwards and plant in a pot or final growing position. As with cultivated strawberries they can be fed a high potash fertiliser to improve yield and the fruit packed underneath with straw to protect whilst ripening. However, the fruit does tend to sit high on the plants and so naturally protects itself, although perhaps not from birds and animals. Plants grow to around 20 cm in height and with a 30cm spread.
You can also buy wild strawberry plug plants online.
The leaves, roots and fruit have many medicinal uses. Plants are ideal for ground cover in a forest garden or any other garden, as they spread readily using runners. The fruit has been used as a teeth cleaner and whitener.
The wild strawberry (Fragaria vesca) is not to be confused with the barren strawberry (Potentilla sterilis). The latter has darker leaves and hairs on the underside that stand erect. The hairs on the leaves of the wild strawberry lay flat.
The fruit, leaves and flowers are edible raw or cooked. The fruit can be used to make jam, preserves and sauces. The leaves (the younger the better) are mild in flavour and can be used in salads. They have also traditionally been used as a pot herb. Leaves can also be used to make a black tea or a green tea.
The root has been used as a coffee substitute but we haven't tried this. Wild strawberries don't produce a lot of root so unless you have a lot of plants to spare it might be better leaving the plants for the leaves and fruit rather than destroying the plant for the root. A particularly good coffee substitute can be made from dry roasted dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) root. The good thing about dandelions is that they easily regenerate from a small piece of root so if you leave some behind they will keep growing!
As a point of interest, all Rosa species have edible fruit and most, if not all, species have edible flowers.
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| Wild strawberry (Fragaria vesca) fruit |
Plants are very similar to the cultivated garden varieties (Fragaria x ananassa) but the fruit is very much smaller, produces a distinctive perfume and an intensely rich flavour.
Growing methods
Plants produce creamy white flowers in May to June and deep red fruit from June to September. They are one of the first fruits to ripen in the wild. They enjoy moist positions and are hardy but will grow in full sun and partial shade. They prefer alkaline soil and do well in a chalky areas. Wild strawberries, if left to their own devices in an area they like, will do very well without any intervention. In fact, this is why we like wild plants so much. They are not delicate and don't, generally, require a lot of fuss. Given half a chance they will colonise a crack in the pavement and often grow in very little soil.
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| Wild strawberry (Fragaria vesca) in flower |
Wild strawberries propagate in the wild by seed dispersal and there are around 150 seeds (called achenes) on the outer surface of each fruit. Plants also spread prolifically by runners and these are one of the easiest ways of propagating the wild strawberry for home use.
To grow from seed, sow the tiny seed in pots or trays under cover. Be careful not to lose them due to heavy watering. Spread a fine layer of compost over the seed, water carefully and keep at a constant 15-21°C for successful germination within two to three weeks. Once the seedlings are large enough, pot them on into large containers and harden them off. Place in their final growing position as soon as possible.
To grow from runners (stolens), remove runners from the plant during early summer onwards and plant in a pot or final growing position. As with cultivated strawberries they can be fed a high potash fertiliser to improve yield and the fruit packed underneath with straw to protect whilst ripening. However, the fruit does tend to sit high on the plants and so naturally protects itself, although perhaps not from birds and animals. Plants grow to around 20 cm in height and with a 30cm spread.
You can also buy wild strawberry plug plants online.
Other uses
The leaves, roots and fruit have many medicinal uses. Plants are ideal for ground cover in a forest garden or any other garden, as they spread readily using runners. The fruit has been used as a teeth cleaner and whitener.
Issues
The wild strawberry (Fragaria vesca) is not to be confused with the barren strawberry (Potentilla sterilis). The latter has darker leaves and hairs on the underside that stand erect. The hairs on the leaves of the wild strawberry lay flat.
Raw edible parts
The fruit, leaves and flowers are edible raw or cooked. The fruit can be used to make jam, preserves and sauces. The leaves (the younger the better) are mild in flavour and can be used in salads. They have also traditionally been used as a pot herb. Leaves can also be used to make a black tea or a green tea.
The root has been used as a coffee substitute but we haven't tried this. Wild strawberries don't produce a lot of root so unless you have a lot of plants to spare it might be better leaving the plants for the leaves and fruit rather than destroying the plant for the root. A particularly good coffee substitute can be made from dry roasted dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) root. The good thing about dandelions is that they easily regenerate from a small piece of root so if you leave some behind they will keep growing!
As a point of interest, all Rosa species have edible fruit and most, if not all, species have edible flowers.
