Virginia strawberry | skymeadows

Virginia strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)

COMMON NAMES:
Virginia strawberry
thickleaved wild strawberry
wild strawberry

SCIENTIFIC SYNONYMS: There are no scientific synonyms for
Fragaria virginiana.

CONFIRMATION STATUS: Pending confirmation.

TAXONOMY: The currently accepted scientific name for Virginia straw-

berry is Fragaria virginiana Duchesne. There are four varieties of Fragaria

virginiana (all commonly called Virginia strawberry) recognized by the

PLANTS database: 1) Fragaria virginiana Duchesne ssp. glauca (S. Wat-

son) Staudt, 2) Fragaria virginiana Duchesne ssp. grayana (Vilm. ex J.

Gay) Staudt, 3) Fragaria virginiana Duchesne ssp. platypetala (Rydb.)

Staudt, and 4) Fragaria virginiana Duchesne ssp. virginiana. Of the four

subspecies, only subspecies grayana and virginiana occur in Virginia. The

Atlas of Virginia Flora lists Fragaria virginiana without subspecies design-

ation.

NATIVE STATUS: Native, United States and Canada.

GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Habit: Virginia strawberry is a low, colony-forming native perennial

plant.

Leaves: A plant typically consists of several trifoliate leaves with long

hairy petioles that emerge directly from a central taproot in the ground.

Each leaflet is about 3" long and 1½" wide, pale green underneath, coarse-

ly serrated, and obovate or oval in shape. The petioles of the compound

leaves are green or dull red and about 3" long.

Flowers: Each plant can produce one or more clusters of flowers in stalks
about 3-4" long, which also emerge directly from the ground. Each flower
is about ¾" across and consists of 5 white petals. Toward the center, there
are about 25 yellow stamens surrounding a small blunt cone. There is no
noticeable floral scent.

Fruit/Seeds: Afterwards, small red drupes are produced that are about

½–¾" long, and shaped like the familiar cultivated strawberry. They are

sweet and edible.

Roots: While actively growing, wild strawberry produces long hairy run-

ners up to 2' long, which re-root to form plantlets. These runners are often

dull red.

REGENERATION PROCESS: Virginia strawberry propogates itself by
reseeding and through runner plantlets.

HABITAT TYPES: Habitats include moist to mesic black soil prairies,
openings and edges of woodlands (including drier areas), savannas, lime-
stone glades, and areas along railroads. Wild Strawberry is able to tolerate
competition from taller plants because it develops early in the spring, and
is able to tolerate some shade later in the year. It occurs in both degraded
and high quality habitats, often not far from woodland areas.

SITE CHARACTERISTICS: Virginia strawberry prefers full or partial
sun and moist to slightly dry conditions. A rich loamy soil is preferred.

Wild strawberry is a cool-season plant that grows actively during the

spring and fall, but becomes dormant after setting fruit during the hot

summer months. It is an easy plant to grow, which will spread to form a

loose ground cover.

SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT: The blooming period occurs during

late spring or early summer, and lasts about 1-2 months.

GENRAL DISTRIBUTION: Virginia strawberry is found in all states
and provinces of the continental United States and Canada.

SKY MEADOWS DISTRIBUTION: To be determined.

IMPORTANCE AND USES: The ecological value of Virginia straw-

berry to various insects, birds, and animals is high. The flowers attract

long-tongued bees, short-tongued bees, flies, small butterflies, and skip-