Strawberry

Fragaria × ananassa

Description

Strawberries are low-lying, sprawling, perennial plants with three-lobed leaves that some might mistake for poison ivy (though they are in fact quite different). They are fairly innocuous most of the time, making a great ground cover, and sporting juicy red fruits in the early summer. Strawberry plants send out runners which can root and establish new plants that can then be relocated to a new patch.

Site Preference

Strawberries like sun, but will still fruit well in partial shade, making them ideal groundcover around some fruit trees like Peaches, Cherries, and Apples. They also grow very well in patches with Mint, which helps to keep rabbit pressure down significantly. Strawberries will happily grow in porch pots and window planters, too!

Hardiness

Zone 5, possibly colder