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Fragaria vesca (F)

alpine strawberry

RHS Plant Shop from £5.99 Sold by 31 nurseries

  • Other common names alpine strawberry
    wild strawberry

  • Synonyms Fragaria × ananassa

  • Family Rosaceae

  • Genus Fragaria are stoloniferous perennials with leaves composed of three leaflets, and rounded white or pink flowers followed by edible red fruits

  • Details F. vesca is a stoloniferous, spreading perennial forming rosettes of 3-palmate leaves, bright green leaves with toothed leaflets. In late spring it bears cymes of white flowers that are followed by red fruit 1cm long

  • Plant range Europe

Characteristics

  • Foliage Semi-evergreen

  • Habit Trailing

  • Hardiness

    Hardiness ratings

    All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

    • H1a - Under glass all year (>15C)
    • H1b - Can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
    • H1c - Can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
    • H2 - Tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
    • H3 - Hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
    • H4 - Hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
    • H5 - Hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
    • H6 - Hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
    • H7 - Hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

    H6

Colour

Sunlight

  • Full Sun

  • Aspect North-facing or East-facing or South-facing or West-facing

  • Exposure Sheltered

Soil

  • Clay

    Clay

  • Loam

    Loam

  • Sand

    Sand

  • MoistureMoist but well-drained

  • SoilClay, Loam, Sand

  • pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral

Size

  • Ultimate height 0.1-0.5 metres

  • Ultimate spread 0.5-1 metres

  • Time to ultimate height 1-2 years

How to grow

Cultivation Grow in fertile, moist but well-drained soil. Can be grown in a wide range of soils, but thrives in alkaline soils. Tolerant of partial shade; for best fruiting grow full sun. Good for the edge of informal borders or as a ground cover; can spread. Suitable for container cultivation

Propagation Remove and transplant runners. Propagate by seed sow at 13-18°C in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types Ground Cover Cottage & Informal Garden Patio & Container Plants

How to care

Pruning Remove excess runners

Pests Can get aphids, slugs, glasshouse red spider mite and vine weevil

Diseases May be affected by strawberry viruses and root rot. Fruit prone to grey moulds

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RHS Plants Shop

Fragaria vesca (F)

alpine strawberry

Buy from £5.99 at the RHS Plants Shop

Buy from £5.99 at the RHS Plants Shop

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