Fragaria californica - Californian Strawberry

Family:	Rosaceae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	0.3
Synonyms:	Fragaria vesca californica. (Cham.&Schldl.)Staudt.
Range:	South-western N. America - California.

Fragaria californica (Californian Strawberry) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 0.3m . It has a hardness rating of 0and is vunerable to frost.
Californian Strawberry will flower in October to November. the seeds ripen from December to January
The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by Insects

Soil Information

Californian Strawberry will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is / is important for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
- pH greater than 8, Basic soils
Californian Strawberry prefers moist soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Californian Strawberry can grow in semi or areas with no shade.

Shaded, fairly damp places in woodland[200].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Grows within a woodland garden
• Grows on a sunny edge
• Works within dappled Shade
• Grows in a shady edge
• Can spread to cover ground and will out compete weeds

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].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 2/5
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].

• Fruit -
• Tea - the various herb teas that can be used in place of tea, plus the genuine article.

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 1/5
The leaves are astringent. A decoction has been used in the treatment of dysentery[257].

• Astringent - Produces contraction in living tissue, reducing the flow of secretions and discharges of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc.

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.

Known Hazards

None known

Other Uses

None known

• Ground cover - Usually low growing plants that can be grown with other plants, especially shrubs and trees, to prevent the growth of weeds.

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

A California Flora.
Munz.
Author: Munz.
Rating:
Publisher : An excellent flora but no pictures. Not for the casual reader.
Date of Publication : 1959

The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Huxley. A.
Author: Huxley. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Date of Publication : 1992

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