Fragaria virginiana - Scarlet Strawberry

Family:	Rosaceae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	0.3
Synonyms:	F. glauca(S. Wats.)Rydb.
Range:	Eastern N. America - Newfoundland to South Dakota, south to Florida and Oklahoma.

Fragaria virginiana (Scarlet Strawberry) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 0.3m . It has a hardness rating of 3and is vunerable to frost.
Scarlet 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

Scarlet 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
Scarlet Strawberry prefers moist soils

Ideal Planting Locations

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

Fields, open slopes and woodland edges[43].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Grows within a woodland garden
• Grows on a sunny edge
• Works within dappled Shade
• Can be planted in Cultivated Beds

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 grow in such a position. The plants appreciate a mulch of pine or spruce leaves[18]. Along with F, chiloensis, this species is probably a parent of the cultivated strawberries. The cultivar 'Little Scarlet' is a form of this species and this is still occasionally cultivated for its fruit in Britain[119].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 3/5
Fruit - raw, cooked or made into preserves[2, 27, 101, 183]. Sweet and succulent. Small but delicious[159]. The fruit is up to 20mm in diameter[200]. The dried leaves are a very pleasant tea substitute[55, 62, 183]. Rich in vitamin C[159].

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

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 2/5
The whole plant is antiseptic, astringent, emmenagogue, galactogogue and odontalgic[172]. It has been used to regulate the menstrual cycle[172]. A tea made from the leaves has been used as a nerve tonic and is slightly astringent[222]. A poultice made from the dried powdered leaves mixed with oil has been used to treat open sores[257]. A tea made from the roots is diuretic[222]. It has been used in the treatment of diarrhoea, irregular menses, gonorrhoea, stomach and lung ailments[222, 257].

• Antiseptic - Preventing sepsis, decay or putrefaction, it destroys or arrests the growth of micro-organisms.
• Astringent - Produces contraction in living tissue, reducing the flow of secretions and discharges of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc.
• Emmenagogue - Promotes or increases the menstrual flow. In early stages of pregnancy it can induce an abortion.
• Galactogogue - Promotes the flow of milk in a nursing mother.
• Odontalgic - Treats toothache (temporary measure only) and other problems of the teeth and gums.
• Poultice - A moist, usually warm or hot, mass of plant material applied to the skin in the treatment of burns 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

The fruits are used as a tooth cleaner[55, 62]. They are held in the mouth, or rubbed over the teeth, to remove tartar[257].

• Teeth - Plants used to clean and care for the teeth.

Cultivars

'' - No entries have been made for this species as yet.

References

Gray's Manual of Botany.
Fernald. M. L.
Author: Fernald. M. L.
Rating:
Publisher : A bit dated but good and concise flora of the eastern part of N. America.
Date of Publication : 1950

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

An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada
Britton. N. L. Brown. A.
Author: Britton. N. L. Brown. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Reprint of a 1913 Flora, but still a very useful book.
Date of Publication : 1970

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