Red-burgundy fruit emerges in summer and fall as a mass of red seeds on a bumpy surface, expanding to small, rounded, bloated berries. While resembling miniature strawberries, fruits are very seedy and dry with little to no flavor. Similar in size to the flower from which they are borne, fruit measures less than one inch in length and width.
Flowers are often confused with the Potentilla species, such as the Shrubby Cinquefoil, and fruits resemble the Fragaria species, which includes common garden strawberries. This trailing wildflower was moved to the Potentilla genus because it is most closely related to potentilla plants. Thus, mock strawberry was renamed from Duchesnea indica and originally Fragaria indica and is now known as Potentilla indica,
Native to Asia, particularly Afghanistan to Russian Far East, the mock strawberry was introduced to mid and coastal Eastern North America as an ornamental plant. Among other weeds that look similar to garden strawberry plants, mock strawberry is the most well-known. The plant often grows in disturbed soil and lawns where it is tolerant of mowing. It is considered by some to be an invasive noxious weed. It grows most prolifically in agricultural areas, forests, and wetlands.
Light
Tolerant of a range of conditions, this groundcover grows best in full sun to partial shade.
Soil
While it is adaptable to different types of soil, it thrives best in humus rich soil. Maintain a soil pH of 6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic), 6.6 to 7.5 (neutral), to 7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline).
Water
Water regularly, if needed, but do not overwater. Because this plant is drought-tolerant, it is ideal for xeriscaping (water-wise or water-efficient landscaping).
Temperature and Humidity
Mock strawberry thrives in hot, dry areas of the United States.
Mock Strawberries vs. Other Types of Strawberries
Wild strawberry (Fragaria vesca) and other garden strawberries (Fragaria x ananassa) are more juicy, sweet, and flavorful. Both the wild strawberry and mock strawberry have clusters of serrated leaves. The only difference is that mock strawberry leaves have little to no hair. Most other strawberry plants have hairy leaves. Mock strawberry plants have yellow flowers while strawberry plants that produce the fruit we most regularly buy and consume have white flowers. Though the most obvious difference between these plants is the fruit itself. Both wild and mock varieties produce elongated orbs from white to red, but mock strawberry fruit is more spiky. Mock strawberry fruit points upward, while strawberry varieties tend to point downward.
Uses
Mock strawberry fruit, flowers, and leaves are edible. Berries can also help stretch other berries when making jam and jelly, and make a mildly flavored jelly or juice on their own. You can add raw berries to salads, cook leaves as a green for other dishes, and steep leaves for tea.
Propagation
Where it is hardy in USDA Zones 5 through 9, the mock strawberry plant is a perennial plant that spreads via stolons or you can purchase seeds from online seed vendors.
