Fragaria virginiana
Mountain strawberry
(c) Abby Hyde, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Abby Hyde · licence
Family: Rosaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Fragaria virginiana (Mountain strawberry) is a native California herb in the Rosaceae family, recognized by (F. vesca). Clear inflorescence position difference and habitat preferences.
Mountain strawberry is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, Cascade Range high country, Sierra Nevada, and North Coast Ranges in meadows and forest openings at elevations of 1,200 to 3,300 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces white flowers approximately 10 to 20 millimeters wide with delicate petals. Growing with low-spreading stems 2 to 12 centimeters tall, it forms compact clusters close to the ground. Its leaves have three leaflets, with the central leaflet 15 to 60 millimeters long, obovate in shape and featuring 7 to 13 teeth along the upper half of the leaf margin. The fruit develops as a sweet red strawberry receptacle approximately 10 millimeters long, supporting small achenes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species (F. vesca). Clear inflorescence position difference and habitat preferences.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Meadows, forest openings
Elevation: generally 1200-3300 m
California counties: Fresno, Tulare, Butte, Nevada, El Dorado, Mono, Modoc, Shasta, Lassen, Inyo, Siskiyou, Plumas, Tehama, Placer, Humboldt, Mariposa, Del Norte, Tuolumne, Alpine
Outside California: to eastern North America
Bloom period
Fragaria virginiana blooms May-Aug.
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 virginiana native to California?
Yes. Fragaria virginiana is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Fragaria virginiana bloom?
Fragaria virginiana blooms May-Aug.
Where in California does Fragaria virginiana grow?
Fragaria virginiana occurs in Fresno, Tulare, Butte, Nevada, El Dorado, Mono, Modoc, Shasta and other counties, at elevations of generally 1200-3300 m.
What plant family does Fragaria virginiana belong to?
Fragaria virginiana is in the Rosaceae family, genus Fragaria.
What habitat does Fragaria virginiana grow in?
Fragaria virginiana grows in Meadows, forest openings.
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.