Fragaria viridis aka Green Strawberry

Fragaria viridis, or green strawberry, is a low perennial. It belongs to the rose family, Rosaceae. Its range spans Europe and parts of temperate Asia. Records include the Caucasus, Siberia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. It is not native to Britain or Ireland. In the wild, it grows in woods and on banks. These habitats suit its use along woodland garden edges.

Plants reach about 1 foot (0.3 metres) in height. They spread through stolons, or runners, along the ground. These stems help plants form a thick, low carpet. This makes green strawberry useful as a ground cover. It can grow among shrubs and in cultivated beds. Its strong spread can crowd out smaller nearby plants. Allow space for this habit when choosing its position. The evidence gives no fixed width for a mature patch.

Flowers appear from April to May, and insects pollinate them. Some plants bear male and female flowers on separate individuals. In those cases, both sexes are needed for fruit and seed. Seeds ripen from June to July. The fruits keep a green tint with patches of red. Their flesh is sweet and juicy, with a musky, pineapple-like taste. Plants do not always bear much fruit. The fruits can be eaten fresh or cooked. Plants For A Future lists no known hazards or medicinal uses.

Choose fertile soil that holds moisture but drains well. The plant accepts sandy, loamy, and clay soils. It also tolerates mildly acid through mildly alkaline conditions. A sunny site supports better fruit production than partial shade. It can still grow in the light shade of woodland. Keep the soil moist rather than choosing a dry site. Plants For A Future lists USDA hardiness zones 5–9. It also describes the species as not frost tender.

Grow new plants from seed or divide the runners. Sow seed in a greenhouse in early spring. Germination may take four weeks or longer. Young seedlings grow slowly at first, then gain speed. Move them into pots once large enough to handle. They can go into the garden during summer. Divide runners in July or August to establish next year's plants. Spring division is another option, but skip fruiting that year.