Virginia Strawberry
Fragaria virginiana
- Native to:
- Canada, Labrador, Mexico, Prince Edward I., United States
iNaturalist: © psweet (iNaturalist #45426072)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Genus:
- Fragaria
- Species:
- Fragaria virginiana
- USDA Symbol:
- FRVI
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 30 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun,Part Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may,jun
- Bloom Colors:
- white
- Food Forest:
- Contains edible parts
- Ground Cover:
- Yes
- Lawn Substitute:
- Yes
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★★☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Abagrotis trigona, Acleris fragariana, Attentive Dart (Eueretagrotis attentus), Eueretagrotis perattentus, Hitched Arch (Melanchra adjuncta), Lacinipolia lorea, Polia purpurissata, Purple-lined sallow (Pyrrhia exprimens), Smith's Dart (Xestia smithii), Strawberry Leafroller (Ancylis comptana), Syngrapha microgamma, Northern grizzled skipper (Pyrgus centaureae)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals, butterflies, bees
- Fragrant:
- Yes
- Fall Color:
- red, bronze
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from rhizomes after fire. Common in fire-maintained prairies and open woodlands.
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:
- prefers fertile soils with organic matter
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–42 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require light for germination. Cold stratification improves germination rates significantly.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: None required
Establishment: F. virginiana occurs in open woods and meadows to streambanks, plains and mountains; from Alaska to California, east to the Atlantic Coast.
Source: npn.rngr.net