Fragaria chiloensis
Beach strawberry
(c) Brian Finzel, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Brian Finzel · licence
Family: Rosaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Fragaria chiloensis (Beach strawberry) is a native California herb in the Rosaceae family, recognized by (F. vesca). Clear habitat separation and distinct morphology.
Beach strawberry is a California native perennial found in the northern and central Coast Ranges on ocean beaches and coastal grasslands at elevations below 200 meters. Flowering from February to November, this plant produces white flowers 20 to 40 millimeters wide with delicate, rounded petals. Growing with low-spreading stems 5 to 20 centimeters long, it forms dense ground-covering patches. Its thick, leathery leaves have three leaflets with central leaflets 10 to 60 millimeters long, densely hairy underneath and featuring 7 to 11 rounded teeth above the middle of the leaf. The plant produces small, sweet strawberries with achenes nestled on a receptacle 10 to 20 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species (F. vesca). Clear habitat separation and distinct morphology.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Ocean beaches, coastal grassland
Elevation: < 200 m
California counties: Humboldt, Del Norte, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, San Mateo, Sonoma, San Luis Obispo, Tulare, Monterey, Santa Barbara, Marin, Siskiyou, Ventura, Mendocino, Santa Clara
Outside California: to Alaska, also coastal South America, Hawaii
Bloom period
Fragaria chiloensis blooms Feb-Nov.
How to tell it apart
vs Potentilla: Fragaria has three leaflets per leaf; most Potentilla have five or more leaflets arranged like fingers.; vs Drymocallis: Fragaria has three leaflets and sends out leafless runners; Drymocallis has 5-9 leaflets and no runners.; vs Rubus: Fragaria fruits are fleshy receptacles with seeds on the surface; Rubus fruits are compound drupes (berry clusters).; vs Arbutus: Fragaria is a low herb with runners; Arbutus is a woody tree or shrub.; vs Euonymus: Fragaria has white five-petaled flowers and three leaflets; Euonymus has tiny four-petaled flowers and simple leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Fragaria chiloensis native to California?
Yes. Fragaria chiloensis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Fragaria chiloensis bloom?
Fragaria chiloensis blooms Feb-Nov.
Where in California does Fragaria chiloensis grow?
Fragaria chiloensis occurs in Humboldt, Del Norte, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, San Mateo, Sonoma, San Luis Obispo, Tulare and other counties, at elevations of < 200 m.
What plant family does Fragaria chiloensis belong to?
Fragaria chiloensis is in the Rosaceae family, genus Fragaria.
What habitat does Fragaria chiloensis grow in?
Fragaria chiloensis grows in Ocean beaches, coastal grassland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.