Fragaria virginiana #1 (Wild Strawberry)

Wild Strawberry plants are native, low-growing, ground-covering perennials which produce small, sweet, edible fruits. They thrive in woodland clearings, edges, fields, meadows and on slopes in somewhat fertile soils, but also in degraded habitats. They do most of their growing in the early spring before many other plants get going, and will sometimes go semi-dormant in the heat of summer after fruiting. They can co-exist with taller plants that cast shade later in the season. Their flowering height is only 6-8″ tall and they can spread indefinitely through stoloniferous runners which root into the ground, forming clonal colonies. It is a useful plant to control erosion while preventing many invasive plants that will colonize open ground.

Fruiting will occur after flowering only if climatic conditions are favorable, otherwise the fruits will abort. Making sure the plants have an adequate supply of moisture and protecting them from drying winds will help with fruit production. Wild Strawberries are eaten by a number of mammals, birds and turtles. The flowers are cross-pollinated by many bee species which are attracted by the nectar and pollen. Fragaria species also support many Lepidoptera.

Sources:
Eastern/Central Medicinal Plants and Herbs by Steven Foster and James A. Duke
Missouri Botanical Garden
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Illinois Wildflowers