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Fragaria chiloensis - (L.)Duchesne.

Common Name Beach Strawberry, Pacific beach strawberry, Sandwich beach strawberry
Family Rosaceae
USDA hardiness 4-10
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Grows in scrub near the coast from Chile to western N. America[71].
Range S. America to N. America.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Fragaria chiloensis Beach Strawberry, Pacific beach strawberry,  Sandwich beach strawberry


http://www.flickr.com/people/38213125@N00
Fragaria chiloensis Beach Strawberry, Pacific beach strawberry,  Sandwich beach strawberry
http://www.flickr.com/photos/78425154@N00

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Fragaria chiloensis is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.3 m (1ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from April to May, and the seeds ripen from June to July. The species is dioecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required). and is pollinated by Insects. The plant is not self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

F. cuneifolia.

Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Ground Cover; Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit
Edible Uses: Tea

Fruit - raw or cooked[2, 27, 101, 183, 257]. Large, sweet and succulent with a delicate flavour[183]. A delicious treat[K]. The berries can be used to make jams, preserves etc[257]. A tea can be made from the leaves[257].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antiseptic  Astringent  Emmenagogue  Galactogogue  Odontalgic

The plant is antiseptic, astringent, emmenagogue, galactogogue and odontalgic[172]. It has been used to regulate the menstrual cycle[172]. A poultice of the chewed leaves has been used to treat burns[257].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Plants spread by means of runners and can be grown as a ground cover[208]. A dynamic accumulator gathering minerals or nutrients from the soil and storing them in a more bioavailable form - used as fertilizer or to improve mulch. seedy fruit loved by birds. Perennial groundcover for zone 2 firebreaks. The US government has created a system of firebreaks for areas prone to wildfires, theses are separated into concentric zones surrounding buildings. Zone 2 is the second away from the house. These low-level ground covers provide little fuel.

Special Uses

Dynamic accumulator  Food Forest  Ground cover

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Prefers a fertile, well-drained, moisture retentive soil in a sunny position[27, 200]. Tolerates semi-shade though fruit production will be reduced. Grows best near the coast[27]. Plants like a mulch of pine or spruce leaves[18]. Cultivated for its edible fruit in the Andes[61]. This species, along with F. virginiana, is probably a parent of the cultivated strawberries[46]. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required. For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. An evergreen. The plant growth habit is a runner spreading indefinitely by rhizomes or stolons [1-2]. The root pattern is fibrous dividing into a large number of fine roots [1-2]. The root pattern is stoloniferous rooting from creeping stems above the ground [1-2]. Heat zone 9-1. Can be mown in early spring.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees, and Woodland Gardening. Our new book to be released soon is Edible Shrubs.

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Propagation

Seed - sow early spring in a greenhouse. The seed can take 4 weeks or more to germinate. The seedlings are very small and slow-growing at first, but then grow rapidly. Prick them out into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out during the summer. Division of runners, preferably done in July/August in order to allow the plants to become established for the following years crop[200]. They can also be moved in the following spring if required, though should not then be allowed to fruit in their first year. The runners can be planted out direct into their permanent positions.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
FragariaStrawberry, Beach strawberry, Pacific beach strawberry, Sandwich beach strawberry, Virginia strawberPerennial0.2 4-8  LMHSNM303
Fragaria bracteataWoodland StrawberryPerennial0.3 -  LMHSNM20 
Fragaria californicaCalifornian StrawberryPerennial0.3 0-0  LMHSNM210
Fragaria daltoniana Perennial0.3 -  LMHSNM213
Fragaria iinumaeStrawberryPerennial0.3 -  LMHSNM20 
Fragaria moschataHautbois StrawberryPerennial0.5 5-9  LMHSNM302
Fragaria nilgerrensis Perennial0.2 -  LMHSNM20 
Fragaria nipponica Perennial0.3 -  LMHSNM20 
Fragaria nubicolaIndian StrawberryPerennial0.2 5-9  LMHSNM21 
Fragaria orientalis Perennial0.2 -  LMHSNM30 
Fragaria ovalisRocky Mountain StrawberryPerennial0.2 -  LMHSNM30 
Fragaria vescaWild Strawberry, Woodland strawberry, California strawberryPerennial0.3 4-8  LMHSNM333
Fragaria vesca 'Semperflorens'Alpine StrawberryPerennial0.3 4-8  LMHSNM53 
Fragaria virginianaScarlet Strawberry, Virginia strawberryPerennial0.3 3-7  LMHSNM322
Fragaria viridisGreen StrawberryPerennial0.3 5-9  LMHSNM303
Fragaria x ananassaStrawberryPerennial0.3 4-8  LMHSNM503

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Author

(L.)Duchesne.

Botanical References

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Subject : Fragaria chiloensis  
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