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Fragaria vesca - Cham.&Schltdl.

Common Name Californian Strawberry
Family Rosaceae
USDA hardiness Coming soon
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Shaded, fairly damp places in woodland[200].
Range South-western N. America - California.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Fragaria vesca Californian Strawberry


http://flickr.com/photos/11158528%40N08
Fragaria vesca Californian Strawberry

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Fragaria vesca is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.3 m (1ft).
It is not frost tender. It is in flower from April to May, and the seeds ripen from June to July. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects.
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.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Fragaria vesca californica. (Cham.&Schldl.)Staudt.

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Shady Edge;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit  Leaves
Edible Uses: Coffee  Tea

Fruit - raw[105, 161, 257]. Aromatic, sweet and succulent[183]. The fruit can also be dried for later use[177, 183]. The fruit is about 15mm in diameter[200]. The fresh or dried leaves are used to brew an excellent tea[183].

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.
Antidiarrhoeal  Antirheumatic  Astringent  Diuretic  Dysentery  Laxative  Tonic

The leaves are astringent. A decoction has been used in the treatment of dysentery[257].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Cosmetic  Teeth

None known

Special Uses

Dynamic accumulator  Food Forest

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Prefers a fertile, well-drained, moisture retentive soil in a sunny position[200]. Tolerates semi-shade though fruit production will be reduced. A vigorous plant, spreading rapidly by means of runners. It flowers freely with us, but has not set fruit on our Cornwall trial ground as yet, possibly because all our plants are one clone[K].

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,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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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. 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 Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: United States, Oregon (southwest), California, Mexico, Baja California (Norte), Baja California Sur,

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 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.

 

Expert comment

Author

Cham.&Schltdl.

Botanical References

71200

Links / References

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

Readers comment

lisa latinmer   Tue Aug 10 14:27:36 2004

Link: pink plants

Oskar   Sun Apr 13 2008

I could not find an English reference for this, but for example the Finnish wikipedia page says that fragaria vesca can cause an allergic reaction especially in small children.

Ruby Khan   Wed Aug 26 2009

Hi, My self Ms. Ruby Khan and I am using Fragaria Vesca 200 Medicine for get white and glowing fair Skin. Can you plz tell what ever I want I will get by the same medicine or not?

   Mar 27 2013 12:00AM

Frgaria vesca is actually native to Britain!

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Subject : Fragaria vesca  
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