Fragaria

Fragaria

* historic archive photos

* photos of unknown internet source

* photo taken on Oct 14 2019 in Columbia, MD

Fragaria alpina
Improved varieties exist with very long fruiting seasons ( up to 8 months ) and larger fruits. The berries are great eaten fresh, made into juices, used in muffins, pies and jellies or also frozen for later use. The berries contain Ellagic Acid whicl protects body cells from cancer.
The foliage is also edible and very rich in Vitamin C though has little taste.
Strawberry plants prefer fertile, slightly acidic soil. They grow well with pine needle mulch under pine trees.
They are easy to grow from seed and often self seeds. Plants installed early in spring may fruit the very same year. This Strawberry does not produce runners but may still make an attractive groundcover.
The berries are known to clean and whiten teeth if left in the mouth on the teeth for 5 minutes then followed by brushing with baking soda.

Fragaria chilensis ( Beach Strawberry )
Native to the west coast of North America ( from the Aleutian Islands to southwest Yukon to Skagway, Alaska; south to northern California...it is also native to coastal Chile ). It is a parent of the Garden Strawberry and produces fruit all summer long.
The leaves are composed of 3 oval leaflets, up to 2 inches long. The foliage is glossy deep green, often turning red during autumn.
The white flowers, up to 0.8 inches wide, appear during spring.
Hardy zones 4+.

Fragaria 'Pink Panda'
A fast growing, trailing perennial, reaching up to 6 ( rarely 15 )" tall, that makes a great groundcover. It is an intergeneric hybrid grown primarily for its between Fragaria and Potentilla. It also makes a great hanging basket.
The trifoliate leaves are glossy deep green. The leaflets are up to 1.3 x 0.7" in size.
The pink flowers appear during late spring, often repeating during early autumn.
They are only rarely followed by small fruits.
Hardy zones 5 to 9 in full sun to partial shade ( partial shade only in hot climates ) on fertile, humus-rich, well drained soil. Though many strawberries can be prone to anthracnose, leaf spots, powdery mildew and other leaf disease; this variety is highly resistant to all. This variety spreads by stolon but is sterile and cannot be grown from seed.

Fragaria vesca ( Woodland Strawberry )
It is a widespread in Europe and western Asia as well as native to much of North America ( from Kitsault, British Columbia to Watson Lake, Yukon to central Northwest Territories to The Pas, Manitoba to Lake Nipigon, Ontario to southern Quebec to Newfoundland ). It is endangered in Missouri and extinct in Indiana.
The trifoliate leaves are up to 2.8 inches in length. The foliage is bright green.
The white flowers, up to 0.8 inches wide, appear late spring to mid-summer.
Hardy zones 1 to 8.

Fragaria virginiana ( Wild Strawberry )
Native to most of North America from central Alaska to northwest Northwest Territories to Churchill, Manitoba to central Quebec to Newfoundland and south.
Hardy zones 1 to 8.

* photo taken by Jean Pawek @ CalPhotos