Cascades Strawberry

Fragaria cascadensis

Native to:
United States

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Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Rosaceae
Genus:
Fragaria
Species:
Fragaria cascadensis
USDA Symbol:
FRCA

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Forb/herb
Height:
30 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
Medium
Bloom Months:
apr,may,jun
Bloom Colors:
white
Ground Cover:
Yes
Lawn Substitute:
Yes

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:
★★★★☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)

Reported Fauna Sightings

Bees: Two-form bumble bee (Bombus bifarius)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
birds, small mammals
Fall Color:
red

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
rich, well-drained loamy soil
pH:
5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
consistently moist
Notes:
native to Cascade Range, prefers forest edges

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
Germination Time:
14–30 days
Notes:
Seeds benefit from cold stratification for 4-8 weeks to break dormancy.

Pre-treatment: Cold-moist stratification for 30 days at 1–5°C (34–41°F).

Notes: Seeds require cold-moist stratification before germination.

Source: Claude AI