Fragaria vesca - Wild Strawberry

Family:	Rosaceae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	0.25
Width:	1
Synonyms:
Range:	Most of Europe, including Britain, to temperate Asia.

Fragaria vesca (Wild Strawberry) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 0.25m and a width of 1m . It has a hardness rating of 5and is vunerable to frost.
Wild Strawberry will flower in October to January. the seeds ripen from November to March
The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by Bees, flies, lepidoptera

Soil Information

Wild 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
Wild Strawberry prefers moist soils

Ideal Planting Locations

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

Woods, grassland and scrub[9].

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

Cultivation Details

Prefers a fertile, well-drained, moisture retentive soil in a sunny position. Tolerates semi-shade though fruit production will be reduced. Succeeds on acid and alkaline soils. Likes a mulch of pine or spruce leaves. Does well on woodland edges. Plants spread rapidly by means of runners[K].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 3/5
Fruit - raw, cooked or made into preserves[2, 12, 101, 183]. Sweet and succulent. An exquisite flavour but the fruits are usually very small and fiddly[53, 132], though they can be up to 10mm in diameter[200]. Rich in iron and potassium, the fruit is an excellent addition to the diet of people suffering from anaemia[244]. 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, 257]. A delicious drink, it is ideal for children[244]. The root has been used as a coffee substitute in India[240].

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

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 3/5
The leaves and the fruit are mildly astringent, diuretic, laxative and tonic[4, 9, 222, 254]. 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 and has been used as a treatment for diarrhoea in adults and children[222, 257]. It is used in the treatment of chilblains[53] and also as an external wash on sunburn[222]. A poultice can be made from the powdered leaves mixed in oil, it is used to treat open sores[257]. 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, 257]. 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].

• Astringent - Produces contraction in living tissue, reducing the flow of secretions and discharges of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc.
• Diuretic - Acts on the kidneys, promoting the flow of urine.
• Laxative - Stimulates bowel movements in a fairly gentle manner.
• Tonic - Improves general health. Slower acting than a stimulant, it brings steady improvement.

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

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].

• Cosmetic - Used to improve the physicalappearence of a person.
• Teeth - Plants used to clean and care for the teeth.

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

Flora of the British Isles.
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Author: Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Rating:
Publisher : A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
Date of Publication : 1962

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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