About
Fragaria vesca, the wild strawberry or alpine strawberry, is a low-growing, stoloniferous perennial forming spreading mats of fresh-green, trifoliate, toothed leaves. Small, white, five-petalled flowers in late spring are followed by small, intensely sweet, red, conical fruits. The alpine strawberry is one of the most rewarding of all edible ground-cover plants, thriving in sun or partial shade.
About the genus
Fragaria, the strawberries, are stoloniferous herbaceous perennials with trifoliate, toothed leaves and rounded, five-petalled, white or pink flowers followed by edible, red, fleshy fruits. They spread by runners and are grown both as fruit plants and as ornamental ground cover.
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeClay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectNorth-facing, East-facing, South-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH6
Plant details
Plant typeHerbaceous Perennial, Fruit Edible
HabitTrailing
FoliageSemi evergreen
Height0.1-0.5 metres
Spread0.5-1 metres
Time to full height1-2 years
Suggested usesCottage and informal garden, Patio and container plants, Wildflower meadow, Wildlife gardens
Native toEurope
Care notes
CultivationGrow in fertile, moist but well-drained soil. Can be grown in a wide range of soils, but thrives in alkaline soils. Tolerant of partial shade; for best fruiting grow full sun. Good for the edge of informal borders or as a ground cover; can spread. Suitable for container cultivation
PruningRemove excess runners
PropagationRemove and transplant runners. Propagate by seed sow at 13-18°C in spring
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to aphids, slugs, glasshouse red spider mite and vine weevil
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to strawberry viruses and root rot. Fruit may be susceptible to grey moulds