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Season: Late Spring to Early Summer

Urban, Rural or Both: Rural mainly

Woodland Strawberries (Fragaria vesca). Known also as the Alpine Strawberry, European Strawberry, Hillside Strawberry and Wild Strawberry. Also, Wild Strawberries (Fragaria virginiana). Known also as the Common Strawberry and the Virginia Strawberry. Both are more often than not just called Wild Strawberries, and though there are differences in the plant and the taste of the fruit, there are far more similarities than the differences, and whichever one I find, I eat. Most people who already eat them have no idea there are two variations - I didn't for a long time.

Telling the difference is not obvious unless you carefully study them. Since this is a book focused on eating wild foods, the most important difference is the taste. The Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) does taste better - very good "Strawberry" flavor, while the taste of the Woodland Strawberry (Fragaria vesca), is duller and less sweet, but still worth picking. On the Wild Strawberry the little yellow seeds (achenes technically) are on the surface in pits, or holes, while on the Woodland Strawberry (Fragaria vesca), the seeds (achenes) are on the surface not in pits or holes. On the Woodland Strawberry (Fragaria vesca) the leaf is thicker and tougher feeling and wrinkly looking, where on the Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana), it is thinner and less tough feeling and flatter overall. The serrations on the tips of the leaf are longer than the sides of the Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) leaf, whereas on the Woodland Strawberry (Fragaria vesca) the serrations are about the same size all around the leaf. Also, in general, the Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) is lower to the ground than the Woodland Strawberry (Fragaria vesca) - but that can overlap. The Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) has runners that are up to 60 cm (2 feet) long, while the Woodland Strawberry (Fragaria vesca) has runners up to about 30 cm (1 foot) long. I've noticed the Woodland Strawberry (Fragaria vesca) variety produces fewer runners than the Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana), but that could just be my sample.

Oddly, though they are so very similar in most ways, they do not hybridize, as they are genetically unique. One has two sets of chromosomes, while the other has eight.

There is a caution with this plant: Do Not confuse it with the Mock Strawberry Potentilla indica. There is a difference of opinion on how poisonous the Mock Strawberry is, but best be safe. Unfortunately, the leaves are very similar. Although not native to North America, the Mock Strawberry has been brought here as a garden ornamental and has escaped and naturalized in places in Eastern North America, especially the Southeastern USA. Pictures of the Mock Strawberry on the web here (Google images) and here (Bing images). The Mock Strawberry has yellow flowers, while the Wild Strawberry has white or pinkish-white flowers. Take note when comparing pictures of them that the Mock Strawberry fruit is upright on the stem and has five green little petals (bracts technically) framing it, while the Wild Strawberry hangs down from an arced over stem (stem does a U-turn) and does not have the green petals framing it.

You can gather Wild Strawberries and use like strawberries, but they don't last long, and squish easily, so the best way is to just eat as you gather. If you have a low stool or wooden box to sit on while you do this, it makes the task more pleasant.

If you like whipped cream over regular strawberries cut up, a nice visual trick for serving is to have a few wild strawberries gathered, put the regular strawberries cut in the bowl, put the whipped cream on top, then a few wild strawberries on the whipped cream.

Recipe search on the web here (Google search) and here (Bing search).

Growing this plant in your home garden:

Yes, and very easy. You can start from seed, but the easiest way is to transplant a shovel full that you find to where you want them. Few conditions they will not like, but if you live in the Southern parts of the USA, give them a little shade. After they take, just weed the area and pick berries in season. Nice rock garden plant by the way.

For detailed growing instructions, go to my Wild Foods Home Garden website Wild & Woodland Strawberry page.

Woodland Strawberries (Fragaria vesca).

Description:

• Plant Size: Low to ground - no more than 30 cm (12 inches) high, with runners that root and produce new plants
• Duration: Perennial
• Leaf Shape: Trifoliate compound leaf, each leaflet is more or less Ovate
• Leaf Phyllotaxis (Leaf Arrangement) on branch: All leaf stems are basal - they come from a root crown at the surface of the ground, or just below.
• Leaf Size: Each leaflet is 2.5-6.5 cm (1 to 2 1/2 inches) long, and 2-5 cm (3/4 to 2 inches) wide
• Leaf Margin: Coarsely Serrated (saw toothed edge)
• Leaf Notes: Upper leaf surface is medium green, lower leaf surface is light green. Can be finely hairy on both sides or glabrous (hairless)
• Flowers: Five white petals, yellow center on 7.5-20 cm (3 to 8 inches) long stem that can be green or a reddish-purple and covered in hairs. Stems are also basal - they come from the root crown at the ground surface. Flowers late spring until mid summer.
• Fruit: Very small strawberries. flavor duller and less sweet than the Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana), but never bitter or sour. The seeds (achenes) are on the surface not in pits or holes.
• Habitat: Can be found almost anywhere except exceptionally dry or soaking wet ground. Grasslands, edges of woods, sunny woods, fields, roadsides, hillsides, and as a weed in flower and vegetable gardens.

• Pictures on the web here (Google images) and here (Bing images).
• USDA distribution map and plant profile here.
• The Biota of North America Program (BONAP) distribution map here. BONAP map color key here.

Wild Strawberries (Fragaria virginiana).

Description:

• Plant Size: Low to ground, with runners that root and produce new plants. Generally, no more than 20 cm (8 inches) high
• Duration: Perennial
• Leaf Shape: Trifoliate compound leaf with more or less Ovate leaflets
• Leaf Phyllotaxis (Leaf Arrangement) on branch: All leaf stems are basal - they come from a root crown at the surface of the ground, or just below.
• Leaf Size: Around 7.5 cm (3 inches) long by 3.75 cm (1 1/2 inches) wide
• Leaf Margin: Serrated (saw toothed edge)
• Leaf Notes: Pale green on lower surface. Leaf stems and runners can be green to dull red and are hairy
• Flowers: Five petalled white flower with yellow center on about 7.5 cm (3 inch) stems that come from the root crown. Flower about 2 cm (3/4 inch) diameter.
• Fruit: Sweet, very good "Strawberry" flavor. The seeds (achenes) are in little pits or holes on the surface of the fruit.
• Habitat: Near woodlands, likes rich moist, well drained soils, does well in limestone soils, open areas, ditches, waste areas. Because it grows in cool spring and fall conditions and goes nearly dormant in heat of summer, it can survive summer shade.

• Pictures on the web here (Google images) and here (Bing images).
• USDA distribution map and plant profile here.
• The Biota of North America Program (BONAP) distribution map here. BONAP map color key here.

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