Alpine strawberry, Woodland strawberry
Fragaria vesca

Family: Rosaceae

What it is like

A small plant which keeps growing from year to year. It grows to 20 cm high and spreads to 30 cm wide. The stems are long runners which form roots at the nodes. The leaves have 3 leaflets and are bright green. The leaflets are oval and with coarse teeth around the edge. They are 6 cm long and arranged in rings on long leaf stalks. The flowers are small white and open. They have 5 petals. The fruit are oval and fleshy. They are white and turn red (or white) as they ripen. They are sweet. A strawberry with small leaves and fruit and the seeds are on the outside of the fruit.

The cultivated strawberry is a variation of this plant. This plant has 2 sets of chromosomes. This has also been changed to 8 sets of chrosomes so that it can be crossed with the garden strawberry.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in the highlands in the tropics. It grows from 1600 m up to 3550 m in the tropics. They do poorly in hot humid climates. It becomes naturalised in high mountain regions in Papua New Guinea. It needs well drained soils and a protected sunny position. They are drought and frost tender. They enjoy acid soil. It suits hardiness zones 5-9. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Asia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Balkans, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bosnia, Britain, Bulgaria, Canada, Caucasus, Central America, Central Asia, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Eswatini, Europe, Fiji, Finland, Georgia, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, Hungary, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Inner Mongolia, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Mediterranean, Mexico, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, North America, Northeastern India, Norway, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Scandinavia, SE Asia, Serbia, Siberia, Sicily, Sikkim, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tasmania, Tibet, Turkey, Türkiye, Ukraine, USA, Vietnam, West Indies

How it is used for food

The fruit is eaten fresh with ice cream or as a filling for tarts or made into jam. The dried leaves are used to make tea. It has a good flavour and is high in Vit. C. Young leaves are eaten in salads and soups. They are also used for tea.

It is sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves - tea

How it is grown

They can be grown from seed. Seed are best put in a refrigerator for 2 weeks before planting. Mostly they are grown from runners. It grows wild in some areas.

Its other names

Local names

Ameibuji, Bhui aselu, Bhuikaphal, Buti, Czerwone, Dag cilegi, Dau-tay, Divlja jagoda, Dreza, Erdei, Fodi eper, Fresa silvestre, Fragola, Fragula, Frutilla, Getnamori, Gorska yagoda, Jagoda sumska, Lulestrydhe, Maasikas, Maduixera, Maiore, Mandzoi, Mark-jordbaer, Marts'qvi, Maizi, Metsmaasikas, Meza zemenes, Navadni jagodnjak, Pahari rashberi, Paziemkos, Sa-mrep, Strawberi hutan, Wilde aardbei, Xia jiu, Yabani cilek, Zemlianika

Synonyms

Fragaria insularis Rydb.; Fragaria monophylla Duchesne; Fragaria vesca var. monophylla (Duchesne) Ser.; Potentilla vesca (L.) Scop.; See Fragaria nubicola;