Fragaria chiloensis

The Fragaria chiloensis is a wild strawberry native to Chile that is one of the main ancestors of our cultivated strawberries. It is a perennial plant that spreads through stolons, to eventually form a dense ground cover, with a shiny dark green color that remains evergreen in winter. This strawberry blooms from spring to summer, with small corollas that range from pale yellow to white, but rarely bears fruit in our climates. When they reach maturity, its strawberries are large and have a red-brown color on the outside, but they contain white flesh. This Chilean strawberry is sometimes used as an alternative to grass or to decorate a rock garden or slope in mild climates.

The Fragaria chiloensis belongs to the rose family. Native to Chile, it is found along the entire Pacific coast of the Americas as well as in Hawaii. Cultivated since ancient times by indigenous peoples, this strawberry was brought to France in 1714 by the explorer Amédée-François Frézier. It is a perennial herbaceous plant that measures about 10-15 cm (4-6in) in height but spreads laterally on the ground to occupy an area of ​​1 m². Its dark green, shiny leaves are divided into three dentate leaflets, measuring about 5 cm (2in) long. Flowering occurs from late April to late June. The cup-shaped flowers with 5 petals have a yellow stamen center and measure about 1 cm (0in) wide. This strawberry is dioecious, meaning there are male plants and female plants. Having both sexes in the garden is essential for fruiting. After pollination by insects, fruits the size of a walnut form and require warmth to ripen properly. These are strawberries with white, aromatic flesh.

This Chilean strawberry is not demanding when it comes to soil, and it quickly forms beautiful foliage that remains decorative all year round. It is a botanical curiosity and a great asset for a natural garden. Let it spread in partially shaded areas of the garden, in a rock garden or along a path: it is a very good ground cover for mild, even somewhat dry climates. Its main interest is decorative, but the female Fragaria chiloensis can still produce some fruits that are perfectly edible, if both sexes are present in your garden.