Appalachian barren strawberry

Waldsteinia fragarioides (Michx.) Tratt.

Appalachian barren strawberry forms a low carpet of three-parted leaves. Short underground rhizomes allow the perennial to spread, and its foliage can take on bronze tones in winter. The resemblance to a strawberry is reflected in the epithet fragarioides, while the yellow flowers give a different first impression in spring. Oregon State University Landscape Plants: Waldsteinia fragarioides

Botanical name

Kew accepts Waldsteinia fragarioides (Michx.) Tratt.; Geum fragarioides is a synonym. This description follows North American regional treatments of the catalog’s species. Kew POWO: Waldsteinia fragarioides

Recognizing the plant

Leaflets broaden toward their rounded outer ends and have toothed or shallowly lobed margins. Flowers occur in small clusters, commonly three to eight together. Five yellow petals surround numerous stamens and a small central group of pistils. Flora of North America describes plants about ten to twenty centimetres high and notes considerable variation in flower size, with larger flowers more usual toward the northern part of its range. Oregon State University Landscape Plants: Waldsteinia fragarioides Flora of North America: Waldsteinia fragarioides

Bloom window

North American flora treatment

Flowering is recorded in April and May. Flora of North America: Waldsteinia fragarioides

Native range

The North American portion of its native range runs from eastern Canada into the north-central and eastern United States. Regional floras place it in moist or dry hardwood woods and mixed conifer–hardwood forest, from near sea level to roughly 600 metres. Kew POWO: Waldsteinia fragarioides Flora of North America: Waldsteinia fragarioides

Botanical sources

Reviewed 2026-10-11. Seasonal development varies with location and growing conditions.