Advanced Search Filters

Plant Type
Hardiness Zone
Heat Zone
Sunset Zone
Function
Sun Exposure
Soil Moisture
Water Requirement

Waldsteinia fragarioides

Image of Waldsteinia fragarioides

Jessie Keith

Family

Rosaceae

Botanical Name

Waldsteinia fragarioides

Plant Common Name

Barren Strawberry

General Description

An excellent groundcover for shady sites, barren strawberry is a low, mat-forming, semi-evergreen perennial from moist to dry woods of eastern and central North America.

This hardy perennial spreads by underground runners to form dense carpets of strawberry-like leaves that persist through winter in milder climes. Emerging in early spring, the three-parted, jagged-edged leaves are bright green maturing to dark glossy green. Few-flowered clusters of bright yellow, five-petaled blooms appear on short stems in spring. The seed capsules (achenes) that follow are borne on a dry brown receptacle rather than in fleshy red "berries".

Barren strawberry thrives in partial shade and moist, humus-rich soil. Established plants do well in dry shade. This tough, vigorous perennial is ideal for covering ground in shady gardens, particularly within its native range.

Characteristics

  • AHS Heat Zone

    9 - 1

  • USDA Hardiness Zone

    3 - 8

  • Sunset Zone

    2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17

  • Plant Type

    Perennial

  • Sun Exposure

    Partial Sun, Partial Shade

  • Height

    4"-8" / 10.2cm - 20.3cm

  • Width

    1'-2' / 0.3m - 0.6m

  • Bloom Time

    Spring

  • Native To

    Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States, Canada, Turkey

Growing Conditions

  • Soil pH

    Acidic, Neutral

  • Soil Drainage

    Well Drained

  • Soil type

    Loam, Sand

  • Growth Rate

    Fast

  • Water Requirements

    Average Water

  • Habit

    Mat-forming

  • Seasonal Interest

    Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Ornamental Features

  • Flower Interest

    Showy

  • Flower Color

    Yellow

  • Fruit Color

    Brown

  • Foliage Color (Spring)

    Green, Dark Green

  • Foliage Color (Summer)

    Dark Green

  • Foliage Color (Fall)

    Dark Green

  • Foliage Color (Winter)

    Dark Green, Bronze

  • Fragrant Flowers

    No

  • Fragrant Fruit

    No

  • Fragrant Foliage

    No

  • Bark or Stem Fragrant

    No

  • Flower Petal Number

    Single

  • Repeat Bloomer

    No

  • Showy Fruit

    No

  • Edible Fruit

    No

  • Showy Foliage

    No

  • Foliage Texture

    Medium

  • Foliage Sheen

    Glossy

  • Evergreen

    Semi-Evergreen

  • Showy Bark

    No

Special Characteristics

  • Usage

    Container, Edging, Groundcover, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Wildflower

  • Sharp or Has Thorns

    No

  • Invasive

    No

  • Self-Sowing

    No