Woodland Strawberry and Wild Strawberry both have delicious berries. And, they may be found growing together in the woodland. If you find them in fruit, you can distinguish them by the seeds being sunken in on wild strawberry and the seeds standing out from the fruit on woodland strawberry.
Otherwise there are a few other characteristics that can differentiate them. The calyx , or sepals, that surround the flower are bent backward from the fruit on woodland strawberry, while they are toward the fruit on wild strawberry.
The end of the leaf is generally different on each species. On wild strawberry the terminal tooth is reduced in size, while on woodland strawberry, it is not. You may be able to see these teeth in the photo.
The flowering stems on woodland strawberry tend to be taller than the leaves. On wild strawberry, they tend to be lower than the leaves. Woodland strawberry prefers more shade and more moisture than wild strawberry. It isn’t likely to be found in full sun.
Photo credit: Nate Martineau
Woodland Strawberry (Fragaria vesca)
Michigan Flora reference page for state distribution: Woodland Strawberry
Height: 3-6 inches
Bloom time: April-June
Soil: moist loam
Sun: part-shade to shade
Plant spacing: 6-12 inches
Flower: white petals with yellow centers
Life cycle: perennial
Family: Rosaceae
Seed source: Eastern US
Woodland Strawberry and Wild Strawberry both have delicious berries. And, they may be found growing together in the woodland. If you find them in fruit, you can distinguish them by the seeds being sunken in on wild strawberry and the seeds standing out from the fruit on woodland strawberry.
Otherwise there are a few other characteristics that can differentiate them. The calyx , or sepals, that surround the flower are bent backward from the fruit on woodland strawberry, while they are toward the fruit on wild strawberry.
The end of the leaf is generally different on each species. On wild strawberry the terminal tooth is reduced in size, while on woodland strawberry, it is not. You may be able to see these teeth in the photo.
The flowering stems on woodland strawberry tend to be taller than the leaves. On wild strawberry, they tend to be lower than the leaves. Woodland strawberry prefers more shade and more moisture than wild strawberry. It isn’t likely to be found in full sun.
Photo credit: Nate Martineau
Woodland Strawberry (Fragaria vesca)
Michigan Flora reference page for state distribution: Woodland Strawberry
Height: 3-6 inches
Bloom time: April-June
Soil: moist loam
Sun: part-shade to shade
Plant spacing: 6-12 inches
Flower: white petals with yellow centers
Life cycle: perennial
Family: Rosaceae
Seed source: Eastern US
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