Duchesnea indica var. indica
Mock-strawberry
Family: Rosaceae · Type: Perennial · Not Native
Duchesnea indica var. indica (Mock-strawberry) is a non-native California perennial in the Rosaceae family, recognized by Asian species naturalized in disturbed habitats, the only yellow-flowered strawberry-like plant in California.
Mock-strawberry is a naturalized perennial ground cover found in the central California Coast, South Coast, and Sacramento Valley regions in disturbed areas at elevations generally below 500 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces white flowers with four to eight millimeter obovate-oblong petals. Growing as a low-spreading ground cover with sparsely hairy stems, it forms dense mats that creep along the ground. Its basal leaves have three leaflets, with the central leaflet one to four centimeters long, elliptic to ovate in shape and short-stalked. The fruit is a small spherical reddish structure with tiny red achenes nestled across its surface, resembling a strawberry but lacking edible qualities.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Asian species naturalized in disturbed habitats, the only yellow-flowered strawberry-like plant in California
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed areas
Elevation: generally < 500 m
California counties: Butte, San Mateo, Los Angeles, Santa Clara, El Dorado
Outside California: to eastern United States, native to Asia
Bloom period
Duchesnea indica var. indica blooms May-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Fragaria: Duchesnea has yellow petals; Fragaria has white petals.; vs Sibbaldia: Duchesnea spreads by runners and has large petals; Sibbaldia has no runners and tiny 1mm petals.; vs Potentilla: Duchesnea has three leaflets and produces fleshy red fruits; Potentilla usually has 5+ leaflets and dry seed clusters.
Frequently asked questions
Is Duchesnea indica var. indica native to California?
No. Duchesnea indica var. indica is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Duchesnea indica var. indica bloom?
Duchesnea indica var. indica blooms May-Aug.
Where in California does Duchesnea indica var. indica grow?
Duchesnea indica var. indica occurs in Butte, San Mateo, Los Angeles, Santa Clara, El Dorado, at elevations of generally < 500 m.
What plant family does Duchesnea indica var. indica belong to?
Duchesnea indica var. indica is in the Rosaceae family, genus Duchesnea.
What habitat does Duchesnea indica var. indica grow in?
Duchesnea indica var. indica grows in Disturbed areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.