Pocket Botanist
Check these first
- Check if the spots rub off like dust.
- Ensure the plant has enough space from other plants.
- Examine the humidity levels in your growing area.
Likely causes
Powdery Mildew
Most likelyHow to tell: A white, dusty fungal growth appears on the surface of the leaves during humid weather.
What to do: Improve air circulation by thinning out crowded plants. Remove heavily infected leaves and treat the rest with a mixture of one part milk to nine parts water.
Leaf Spot Disease
PossibleHow to tell: Small brown or purple spots with lighter centers appearing on the foliage.
What to do: Avoid overhead watering to keep the leaves dry. Remove and dispose of infected leaves to prevent the spores from spreading.
Find out what's wrong with your wild strawberry
The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
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When to worry
Treat these spots early to prevent them from covering the entire plant. If the plant is severely defoliated, it may struggle to recover.
Stopping it coming back
Water at the base of the plant rather than over the leaves, and ensure good airflow between plants.
Wild Strawberry: spots? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your wild strawberry and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free
Questions people ask
- Is powdery mildew contagious?
- Yes, it spreads easily through the air to other susceptible plants in your garden.
- Can I eat berries from a plant with spots?
- It is best to avoid eating berries from plants with heavy fungal growth, especially if the fruit itself is affected.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Wild Strawberry
- Why are my wild strawberry leaves turning yellow?
- What is eating my wild strawberry leaves?
- Why is my wild strawberry plant drooping?
- Why is my wild strawberry not producing flowers?
- How do I fix root rot in my wild strawberry?
- Why is my wild strawberry plant looking so leggy?
- Why are the tips of my wild strawberry leaves turning brown?
- Why is my wild strawberry plant dropping its leaves?
- Why are my wild strawberry leaves curling?
Back to the Wild Strawberry guide
This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.