Fragaria vesca Seeds | White Alpine Strawberry
LATIN NAME: Fragaria vesca
COMMON NAME: White Alpine Strawberry, White-fruited Wood Strawberry
Plant Profile
Fragaria vesca, commonly known as White Alpine Strawberry, is a perennial in the rose family, native to mountain meadows and woodlands of Europe and the northern Asia, while it has been cultivated in gardens for its sweet, white fruits. For the small amount of care it requires, the return is remarkable.
Science & Biotechnology
Research touching on Fragaria vesca ranges from the botany of the rose family to practical horticulture, including seed handling, propagation and the selection of superior forms. White alpine strawberry has a real and distinguished place in research. The upshot for anyone sowing it is reassurance — cultivated stock of this plant has a long, well-documented track record.
Uses & Benefits
Gardeners value White Alpine Strawberry for its ornamental character, and the plant also fits naturally into herb, vegetable and cutting gardens. White alpine strawberry is a low-growing, perennial herb of mountain meadows, bearing trifoliate, bright-green leaves and small, white flowers, followed by sweet, white or pale-yellow fruits through the summer. Its white flowers feed bees and pollinating insects, and its low, clumping habit gives a fine ground cover in alpine garden and rock garden, while its sweet, white fruits are a favourite treat in the garden. To raise white alpine strawberry, sow seeds thinly on surface of pots of moist, open soil in a cool, bright place, keep them gently watered, and grow little plants on in the light. Routine care after establishment is refreshingly light.
Strawberries are among the most beloved functional fruits, rich in vitamin C, folate and ellagic acid, with studies on their polyphenols for metabolic and skin health; the leaves make a mild traditional astringent tea.
Growing from Seed
Sow fresh seed of White Alpine Strawberry under ordinary good conditions. Broadcast the seed thinly over a fine, free-draining compost, sieve a little more compost on top, and water with a fine rose. Transplant the sturdiest seedlings to their permanent spots and let them develop without disturbance.
Our Take
White Alpine Strawberry, White-fruited Wood Strawberry is the kind of plant that rewards a permanent spot. Part of this plant’s appeal is the long practical history summarized above. Minor errors in timing or watering rarely cost the grower the crop.
Related Reading
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