Woodland Strawberry

Fragaria vesca

Woodland strawberry is a small, fast-growing perennial groundcover native to forests, streambanks, and meadows across much of the Northern Hemisphere. It spreads by stolons and forms low mats of trifoliate, serrated leaves, which provide cover for soil and small wildlife. In spring to early summer, it produces delicate white, five-petaled flowers that develop into small, aromatic red strawberries, prized for their intense flavor. Ecologically, F. vesca supports pollinators with its blossoms, provides forage for birds and mammals, and contributes to understory diversity in woodland and riparian habitats.