Fragaria vesca
Wood strawberry, Wood Strawberry
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Family: Rosaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Fragaria vesca (Wood strawberry) is a native California herb in the Rosaceae family, recognized by (F. chiloensis, F. virginiana). Intermediate elevation range creates overlap zones.
Wood strawberry is a native perennial found in northwestern California, the California Ranges, Sierra Nevada, central western California, San Bernardino Mountains, and Peninsular Ranges in partially shaded forest habitats at elevations of 15 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from January to July, this plant produces white flowers approximately 15 millimeters wide with delicate petals. Growing with slender stems 3 to 15 centimeters tall, it spreads with thin stems that create a low, spreading growth pattern. Its leaves are compound with three leaflets, each 15 to 70 millimeters long, widely elliptic-obovate with 12 to 21 sharp or blunt teeth along the margins, and sparsely hairy on top surfaces. The small bright red fruits are sweet and delicate, emerging from a receptacle 5 to 10 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species (F. chiloensis, F. virginiana). Intermediate elevation range creates overlap zones.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Generally partial shade in forest
Elevation: 15-2000 m
California counties: Tuolumne, Riverside, Santa Cruz, El Dorado, Tulare, San Bernardino, Sonoma, Mendocino, Monterey, Santa Barbara, Nevada, Calaveras, Marin, Fresno, Butte, Siskiyou, Shasta, San Francisco, Yuba, Humboldt, Trinity, Plumas, Sierra, Santa Clara, Del Norte, Alameda, Contra Costa, Napa, Lake, San Diego, Mariposa, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Placer, Lassen, Madera, Los Angeles, Inyo
Outside California: to eastern North America, Baja California, also Europe
Bloom period
Fragaria vesca blooms Jan-Jul.
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 vesca native to California?
Yes. Fragaria vesca is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Fragaria vesca bloom?
Fragaria vesca blooms Jan-Jul.
Where in California does Fragaria vesca grow?
Fragaria vesca occurs in Tuolumne, Riverside, Santa Cruz, El Dorado, Tulare, San Bernardino, Sonoma, Mendocino and other counties, at elevations of 15-2000 m.
What plant family does Fragaria vesca belong to?
Fragaria vesca is in the Rosaceae family, genus Fragaria.
What habitat does Fragaria vesca grow in?
Fragaria vesca grows in Generally partial shade in forest.
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.