Description
Duchesnea – Indian Strawberry – Mock Strawberry –
There are about 6 species of low growing, more or less evergreen perennials, in this genus. They occur from damp, shady woodland and stream side in Southern and Eastern Asia. Duchesneas are grown for their 5 petalled flowers, which are yellow and strawberry like, as the fruits that follow, although these are unpalatable. Rooting runners may be invasive in warm areas, but the fully divided, 3 to 5 palmate leaflets, conspicuously veined, toothed, strawberry like leaves are a good ground cover. D. indica looks especially attractive when grown as a houseplant in hanging baskets.
Grow in any soil and position although prefer humus rich soil in full or partial shade.
Prone to birds, snails and slugs.
D. indica – Fragaria indica – Indian Strawberry – Mock Strawberry – Potentilla indica – This rosette forming, semi evergreen perennial from India, China and Japan grows 4″ tall and at least 4′ feet wide. It produces numerous short runners that root at the nodes from which sprout 3 palmate, dark green, hairy leaves, to 4″ long, have obovate leaflets. From spring to early summer it bears solitary, 1″ wide, 5 petalled yellow flowers, surrounded by large green calyces and epicalyces, followed by an ornamental unpalatable, bright red fruit, to 3/4″ long, in late summer.
Zones 6-8
