Plant of the Week: ​Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)

Common among grocery stores and ice cream sundaes, strawberries can be found through Europe, eastern North America, and parts of South America. However, not all are created equal. Fragaria virginiana, the Wild American Strawberry, is much prized for its sweet ripe fruits that the larger fruits of early Europe could not match. In the late 1800s, Thomas Laxton, now known as the father of the modern strawberry, successfully bred this sweet American strawberry with an existing European variety to create the Royal Sovereign Strawberry. This would go on to be served to England’s Royal Family and can still be found today through garden seed suppliers.
 
The plant itself can be found through much of Illinois and in varying habitats from railroad tracks, woodlands, hill prairies, and anything in between. Relying on early spring growth, the wild strawberry can withstand competition from larger plants that develop later in the year as it goes mostly dormant after setting fruit for the summer. Watering in late spring and early summer helps to encourage growth of fruits. Though smaller in size than traditionally cultivated strawberries, these wild varieties hold a more concentrated flavor. They make a great addition to any garden that receives part shade or full sun, where the plant will be allowed to sprawl along the ground and form a loose ground cover.