Wild Strawberry Yellow Wonder - Fragaria vesca

Fragaria alpinum 'Yellow Wonder', sometimes called yellow wood strawberry, is an alpine strawberry whose small white strawberries turn yellow when ripe. This colour is unappealing to birds. The sweet strawberries have a scent like woodland strawberries. The plant does not produce runners, but it forms a compact clump that blooms and produces fruit throughout the season. This hardy variety can be grown in the ground or in a pot, in partial shade. It likes humus-rich, well-drained soil that remains slightly moist.

The alpine strawberry belongs to the Rosaceae family, just like many fruit trees (apple, pear, plum, medlar) and many ornamental plants (roses, avens, physocarpus). It is found in alpine woodlands, where the leaf litter provides a suitable carpet for its establishment. Unlike many strawberries, this one does not spread on the ground through long stems called runners. The plant forms a small, dense and neat clump that stays in place. The dark green leaves are composed of three toothed leaflets. They are semi-evergreen if the climate is not too cold. Between May and September, the plants produce small white flowers with 5 petals and a yellow central cone. Under good conditions, these flowers transform a few weeks later into small white fruit that turn yellow when fully ripe. Its flesh is sweet, fragrant, and aromatic. From a botanical point of view, strawberries are pseudocarps. The seeds on the strawberry (achenes) are the true fruits, while the red fleshy envelope is just a means for the plant to facilitate their dispersal by animals.

Fragaria alpinum 'Yellow Wonder' is an extremely hardy plant (down to -18°C (-0.4°F)). It can thrive under bushes and trees. Its production will be better in humiferous, rich soil that is not too dry. Plant it in partial shade or under non-burning sun. It is ideal for semi-shaded rockeries and slightly wild beds, where it will enhance taller plants such as bleeding heart 'Valentine', and large ferns such as Lady Fern (Athyrium filix-femina). It can be grown in planters or hanging baskets on slightly shaded patios or balconies.