Wild Strawberries (Fragaria virginiana) are not just tasty - they are especially valuable to native bees, provide food for wildlife, and serve as charming ground cover. Native to all of the United States and Canada, Wild Strawberry is a low-growing, fast-spreading perennial that spreads by runners (stolons) which spread along the ground and root to form new plants. Typically found in woodland openings and meadows, Wild Strawberry plants prefer full sun to partial shade, and moist to dry soil, but it dislikes overly hot summers and may go dormant after bearing fruit. The foliage may turn a bold red in the fall. It serves as a great addition to your alternative lawn, tolerating foot traffic and responding well to occasional mowing.

In addition to its special value to native bees, Wild Strawberry attracts butterflies, moths, and birds, and it is the larval plant host for the Gray Hairstreak butterfly.

Fun fact: most cultivated strawberries found in stores are a cross between this and a South American species, resulting in the larger berries.