Geum Fragariodes | Barren Strawberry
Sustainable Landscaping with Native Plants
“When all the trees have been cut down, when all the animals have been hunted, when all the waters are polluted, when all the air is unsafe to breathe, only then will you discover you cannot eat money.”
Spring Blooming Native Plants
Barren-strawberry is a carefree, semi-evergreen groundcover that forms a mat with strawberry-like dark green foliage and profusely blooming yellow flowers in early to mid-spring. An excellent choice for woodland garden beds it tolerates partial to light shade and grows about three to six inches in height, while being adaptable to growing in a wide variety of soil types and mediums as long as they are well-drained.
Spreading slowly by rhizomes, geum fragarioides makes it a very good non-aggressive groundcover. Despite having a delicate appearance, it is actually a tough plant and has foliage that remains clean and attractive throughout the growing season, complementing many companion plants such viburnum acerifolium, aster divaricatus, carex, solidago, and viola. An excellent plant for partnering with hostas in the shade garden and purple coneflowers in full sun patches.
An evergreen groundcover, barren strawberry requires little care in fall or spring. Simply rake away any dead foliage in early spring and the plant will unfurl new leaves as soon as the temperatures warm. Foliage that turned bronze in winter will regain its deep green color in spring.
PLANT TYPE
Perennial – This species is a member of the Rosaceae (Rose Family)
SUN/SHADE CONDITIONS
Sun to Partial Shade
SOIL
Grows best in sunny or partly shaded sites. Plants prefer slightly acid well drained humus-rich soils but will tolerate almost any well drained soil.
FLOWER COLOR
From early until late spring, the foliage mats are topped by cheerful yellow flowers. Each bloom is about ½” across with 5 rounded petals surrounding a dense central cluster of golden stamens. After flowering, dry seed clusters containing 2-6 achenes form
FLOWERING PERIOD
Early to Late Spring
FOLIAGE COLOR
Leaves are trifoliate with three fan shaped leaflets in each leaf. The leaflets are 1-2” long with an equal width. They are coarsely toothed and glossy often with a few scattered hairs. Foliage is generally evergreen but may develop a bronzy patina in winter.
PROPOGATION
Barren strawberry is easy to divide thanks to its spreading nature. Spreading by rhizomes, or stems just above or below the soil surface, barren strawberry creates plantlets every few inches. Simply sink a spade into the soil, and sever the stem nearest to the plantlet. Dig up the plantlet and replant. Then, water and mulch the new plant.
At Lincoln Landscaping cultivating the environment is our life and livelihood. It is our number one goal to help our clients create and maintain beautiful landscapes while reducing the impact on the environment. Whether you are interested in a pollinator landscape garden design and build or other landscaping or property management project; we can create for you an environmentally friendly, organic and beautiful property.
Lincoln Landscaping “The Natural Choice”
Mike Kolenut President & CEO
https://lincolnlandscapinginc.com
(201) 848-9699
