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Fragaria vesca 'Semperflorens' - L.

Common Name Alpine Strawberry
Family Rosaceae
USDA hardiness 4-8
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Woodland and damp undergrowth[7].
Range Most of Europe, including Britain, to temperate Asia.
Edibility Rating    (5 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (3 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Fragaria vesca


(c) 2010 Ken Fern & Plants For A Future
Fragaria vesca
(c) 2010 Ken Fern & Plants For A Future

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Fragaria vesca 'Semperflorens' is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.3 m (1ft) by 0.3 m (1ft in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from May to November, and the seeds ripen from June to November. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees, flies, Lepidoptera (Moths & Butterflies).
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in heavy clay soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

F. alpina.

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit  Leaves
Edible Uses: Coffee  Tea

Fruit - raw, cooked or made into preserves[183]. Sweet and succulent with an exquisite taste, they are far superior to the cultivated strawberry[K]. The fruit is fairly small, up to 15mm in diameter, but it is produced abundantly from early summer until the frosts of autumn[K]. Young leaves - raw or cooked[52, 105]. Added to salads or used as a potherb[183]. The fresh or dried leaves are used as a tea substitute[7, 177, 183]. The root has been used as a coffee substitute in India[240].

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.
Astringent  Diuretic  Laxative  Tonic

The leaves and the fruit are astringent, diuretic, laxative and tonic[4, 9, 222]. The leaves are mainly used, though the fruits are an excellent food to take when feverish and are also effective in treating rheumatic gout[4]. A slice of strawberry is also excellent when applied externally to sunburnt skin[4]. A tea made from the leaves is a blood tonic[222]. It is used in the treatment of chilblains[53] and also as an external wash on sunburn[222]. The leaves are harvested in the summer and dried for later use[238]. The fruits contain salicylic acid and are beneficial in the treatment of liver and kidney complaints, as well as in the treatment of rheumatism and gout[244]. The roots are astringent and diuretic[4, 222]. A decoction is used internally in the treatment of diarrhoea and chronic dysentery[4, 244]. Externally it is used to treat chilblains and as a throat gargle[244]. The roots are harvested in the autumn and dried for later use[238].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Compost  Teeth

The flowers are an alternative ingredient of 'Quick Return' herbal compost activator[32]. This is a dried and powdered mixture of several herbs that can be added to a compost heap in order to speed up bacterial activity and thus shorten the time needed to make the compost[K]. The fruit is used as a tooth cleaner[4]. The fresh fruit removes stains from teeth if it is allowed to remain for about 5 minutes[4]. The fruit is also used cosmetically in skin-care creams[7]. It tones and whitens the skin, combats wrinkles, lightens freckles, soothes sunburn and whitens the teeth[244].

Special Uses

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 when plants are growing in such a position. Prefers some shade according to some reports[3, 31]. Plants are often found on clay soils[31] and on soils overlying chalk[13]. Alpine strawberries appreciate a mulch of pine or spruce leaves[18]. The alpine strawberry is often cultivated in the garden for its edible fruit. This fruit is fairly small but exquisitely flavoured and is freely produced from June to November. There are some named varieties[183]. It is not very feasible to grow this plant on a commercial scale because it is very labour intensive to pick and it is also hard to get the fruit to market in good quality. However, it is sometimes grown by specialised growers for the luxury market. The main drawback of growing this plant is that it tends to lose vigour after about 2 - 3 years, partly due to virus diseases and partly because the plant flowers and fruits so freely that it exhausts itself.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plant 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.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

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 chiloensisBeach Strawberry, Pacific beach strawberry, Sandwich beach strawberryPerennial0.3 4-10  LMHSNM313
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 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.

 

Expert comment

Author

L.

Botanical References

200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Steve Harris   Mon Nov 18 03:14:18 2002

"The fruits contain salicylic acid and are beneficial in the treatment of liver and kidney complaints, as well as in the treatment of rheumatism and gout[244]. "

I don't think so. Salicylic acid and it's salts are containdicated in gout because they inhibit excretion of uric acid.

   Sat Apr 19 2008

everything i was looking for. cheers!!!!

Alpine strawberries are also known as fraises des bois. There are runnering varieties as well. There is some debate over their classification.   Dec 31 2010 12:00AM

I have been collecting varieties of alpine strawberries for nearly 25 years. To date I have over 40 red, white and yellow fruiting varieties. I sell these varieties as seeds and plants and have sold fruit to upscale restaurants in the past. I will provide the link to my site which is an informational site.

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Subject : Fragaria vesca 'Semperflorens'  
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