Wild Strawberry (Virginia Strawberry)

Fragaria virginiana Origin: Eastern North America Improvement status: Wild Seeds per packet: ~30 BOTANICAL SAMPLE - NOT GERMINATION TESTED Life cycle: Perennial The wild strawberry, also known as Virginia strawberry, scarlet strawberry, or common strawberry, is a widespread North American native perennial. It is perhaps best-known as one of the parent species of the domesticated garden strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa), along with the beach strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis), which is native to western North and South America. But our native wild strawberries are not to be overlooked. Wild strawberries taste like the very best domesticated strawberries, only better. Despite coming in a small package (seldom larger than 3/4 of an inch), they have a rich, sweet, deep strawberry flavor. The leaves also make a fine tea, rich in Vitamin C. Wild strawberries also have many medicinal uses. According to Plants for a Future, "The whole plant is antiseptic, astringent, emmenagogue, galactogogue and