Fragaria nubicola

Fragaria nubicola is a perennial in the rose family, Rosaceae. Its common names include Himalayan strawberry and Indian strawberry. Kew gives its native range as Afghanistan to Tibet and northern India. Plants For A Future also lists Nepal, Bhutan, northern Myanmar, and parts of China. It is not native to Britain or Ireland. It grows in temperate regions and mountain habitats.

This low plant reaches about 0.7 feet (0.2 metres) tall. Its spread can reach about 3.3 feet (1 metre). Wild plants grow in open grassland and on meadow slopes. They also occur in valley forests and along forest edges. In Nepal, recorded sites lie at 5,250–13,120 feet (1,600–4,000 metres). Other habitat records cover 8,200–12,800 feet (2,500–3,900 metres). These records place it in both open and wooded sites.

Plants For A Future records flowering from April to May. Seeds ripen from June to July. Each flower has both male and female organs. Insects pollinate the flowers. The fruit can be eaten raw and has a pleasant strawberry taste. The supplied species account gives no flower colour or leaf details. It also gives no species-specific account of pests or diseases.

The species profile lists sun or light shade as suitable. It lists sandy, loamy, and clay soils, with good drainage. Soil should stay moist rather than dry out. The stated pH range runs from mildly acid to mildly alkaline. Suggested garden settings include planted beds and sunny woodland edges. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 5–9. Yet its cultivation notes say British hardiness remains uncertain. Those notes base further growing advice on the genus, not this species.

Propagation options include seed and division of runners. Sow seed under glass in early spring. Germination may take four weeks or longer. Seedlings start small and grow slowly before growth speeds up. Move them into separate pots once large enough to handle. Summer planting allows them to establish outside. The account suggests dividing runners in July or August. It also records traditional medicinal uses for plant juice and unripe fruit. These reports do not establish safety or medical benefit. No hazards are listed, but that does not prove all parts are safe.