Wild strawberries are some of my favorite wild fruits. We share where to find wild strawberries and how to identify them and avoid mock strawberries. We also share edible and medicinal uses of wild strawberries, including strawberry leaf tea, plus growing tips.
Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) is also known as Virginia strawberry or common strawberry. It is related to the alpine or woodland strawberry, Fragaria vesca, and the coastal strawberry, Fragaria chiloensis.
Where can I find Wild Strawberries?
Wild strawberries grow throughout the U.S. and Canada. The plants prefer dry locations with rich loamy soil. They pop up near the edges of woods, in yards, and along roadsides.
Identification – Leaves, Flowers, and Fruit
The trifoliate leaves have three parts. Each coarsely toothed leaf grows on a long, hairy stalk. Each leaflet is around 1 inch in length.
Strawberry plants bloom from late spring to early summer, followed by berries. The flowers have five white, round petals surrounding a yellow center.
When the flowers mature, they produce a small, red fruit that looks like a miniature strawberry. They are very sweet and tasty, but typically less than 1/4 inch across. Here in Wisconsin, they show up between mid-June and early July.
Can you eat a Wild Strawberry?
Wild strawberries are edible, sweeter and deeper in flavor than most of their cultivated kin. The tricky part is finding enough of them to do anything other than enjoy a few sweet bites.
Wild strawberries are high inVitamin C, potassium, folate and fiber. They have a long history of medicinal use by native peoples. (See The Wild Strawberry: A Sacred Purifier.)
One study suggests that the higher antioxidants levels in wild strawberries might help fight cancer. That's my kind of medicine.
The berry juice is cooling, and is good for fevers and sunburn. Apply the juice to a sunburned area, then rinse gently after about half an hour. Cherokee Indians used the fruit to remove tartar. Simply hold the crushed fruit in the mouth for around 5 minutes, then follow with a good brushing.
Strawberry Leaf Tea
Strawberry leaves are exceptionally high in vitamin C. Use the fresh or dry leaves to make a mild tea. Make sure the leaves are in good condition and completely fresh or completely dry. Wilted leaves may produce a dangerous mold.
To make strawberry leaf tea, place several teaspoons of fresh or dried leaves into a cup. Cover with boiling water and steep for 10-15 minutes.
This tea has been used traditionally for urinary tract problems, stomach cramps, warding off colds, and more. The book “Edible and Medicinal Wild Plants of the Midwest” is an amazing resource for using wild plants.
Are Wild Strawberries Invasive?
Wild strawberries (Fragaria virginiana) are native to North America, so they're not invasive if you live in North America. That said, there are some look-alikes that are invasive. (See below.)
Wild strawberries are perennials, coming back year after year. The plant sends out runners, spreading in clumps throughout an area. They grow vigorously in spring, and may die back and go dormant as late summer heat sets in.
Some people use the plants for ground cover or as edging for garden beds. Since they are smaller than standard garden strawberries, they may work better for container planting.
Mock Strawberry vs Wild Strawberry
The invasive “wild strawberries” are another plant entirely. Potentilla indica, previously known as duch*esnea indica, looks quite similar, but is native to Asia. Common names include mock strawberries, false strawberries, and Indian strawberries.
The easiest way to tell the difference between the two plants is the flowers. Fragaria virginiana has white flowers, and Potentilla indica has yellow flowers. These plants also spread like crazy, making them a bane to many gardeners.
Are mock strawberries poisonous? No, but the flavor is bland and watery. They may cause a mild reaction in some people, just like real strawberries.
What's the Difference Between Wild Strawberries and Strawberries?
Wild strawberries (Fragaria virginiana) are naturally occurring wild plants with tiny berries. Our modern garden strawberries are varieties descended from a crossing of these strawberries with Chilean strawberries ((Fragaria chiloensis).
Breeders started working with the berries in the early 1700s. The first commercial varieties started appearing in the United States in the mid-1800s. See “History of the Strawberry” for more information.
Can Wild Strawberries be Tamed?
Yes! Growing strawberries, whether garden strawberries or wild strawberries, is similar. They like rich soil, ample sun, and a nice layer of straw mulch. You can transplant berries from a healthy wild patch, or order bare root plants from some nurseries.
Alpine strawberries (Fragaria vesca) are a related species. The seeds are starting to show up in more nursery catalogs.
Wildlife Habitat
Wildlife loves wild strawberries for the blossoms, fruit and leaves. Native pollinators, including many different bees and butterflies, work the flowers. Insects, birds, and mammals eat the leaves and berries. Illinois wildflowers provides a detailed list of the animals that use wild strawberries.
This article is for general informational only. Always exercise caution when using any wild plants and make sure you have positively identified the plant. If you are allergic to domestic strawberries, you are also likely to be allergic to wild strawberries.
More Information about Wild Plants
Thanks so much for stopping by to visit.This post is #44 in the Weekly Weeder series, where we talk about using common wild plants. You can view the entire series on the Herbs and Wildcrafting page.
Articles include:
- My Favorite Wildcrafting Resources
- Queen Anne’s Lace – Butterfly Host Plant and Blueberry Protector
- Grandma Called it Medicine Leaf – Plantain Weed Remedies
This article is written by Laurie Neverman. Laurie was raised on a small dairy farm in northwest Wisconsin, where she gathered wildflowers from the woods and pastures. Now she and her family have 35 acres in northeast Wisconsin, where they combine intentional plantings and semi-wild areas. Every season is a new opportunity to learn more about working with wild plants.
Last updated in 2023.
