Does it produce strawberries?

No, it produces small, dry fruits that are not edible.

No, it is a well behaved native plant that spreads slowly.

Plant guide

Barren strawberry.

Potentilla sterilis

Pronounced po-ten-TIL-la STE-ri-lis

Also known as Barren Strawberry, barren-strawberry

This charming little plant is a lovely ground cover that looks just like a wild strawberry. It spreads nicely to form a carpet of green foliage. You will enjoy its delicate white flowers in the early spring.

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Perennial
Light: Partial shade to full sun
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 3 to 7 days
Mature size: 15 cm
Growth rate: Medium
Hardiness: USDA 4 to 8
Bloom time: Early to mid spring

Care

Keep the soil consistently moist but never soggy to help it thrive. Watch for yellowing leaves which might mean the soil is too dry. It prefers a spot with dappled shade to mimic its natural woodland home.

Watering: Water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Feeding: Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer during the active growing season.
Pruning: Trim back dead or damaged foliage in late winter to encourage fresh growth.
Repotting: Repot only when the plant becomes root bound or the soil quality degrades.
Soil: Well draining loamy soil
Soil pH: Neutral to slightly acidic
Temperature: -20 to 30°C
Humidity: 40 to 70%
Drought tolerance: Moderate
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 5 to 10 years.
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage holes.
Water sitting on the surface for too long.

Safety

People: There are no significant reports of toxicity in humans.
Children: The plant is generally safe, but as with all garden plants, avoid ingestion.
Contact allergens: No specific skin irritants are known.
Airborne allergens: Pollen may cause mild reactions in sensitive individuals.
Edibility: This plant is not considered edible for humans.

How to identify it

Three leaflets with serrated edges
Small white five petaled flowers
Low growing creeping habit
Silky hairs on leaf undersides

Height: 0.05 to 0.15m
Spread: 0.2 to 0.4m
Leaves: green, semi-evergreen
Flowers: white, 1 to 2cm
Fruit: brown, late summer

Problems to watch for

Powdery mildew · A white fungal growth appears on leaves during humid, stagnant conditions.

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

Check your barren strawberry from a photo

Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your plant and tells you what's wrong and what to try first.

Growing it

Propagation: division, seed
When to plant: spring, autumn
Overwintering: The plant is hardy and requires no special protection. Simply clear away dead leaves in early spring to make room for new growth.
In containers: It grows well in shallow containers, provided they have excellent drainage.

Division

Dig up a healthy clump in early spring.
Gently pull the root mass apart into smaller sections.
Replant immediately in well prepared soil.

Plant in groups to create a dense mat that suppresses weeds naturally.

Grows well with

Wood Anemone · They share similar woodland habitat requirements.
Primrose · They provide a lovely spring display together.

Similar species

Wild Strawberry · It looks very similar but produces edible red fruit.

Science

Family: Rosaceae
Genus: Potentilla
Order: Rosales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Europe and parts of Western Asia.
Conservation: It is common and not of conservation concern.

It thrives in dappled shade and well drained soils, often colonizing woodland edges.

Value to wildlife: early nectar source
Pollinators: bees, butterflies
Uses: groundcover, rock garden, woodland edge

Through the year

JFMAMJJASOND

Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 1/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 4/9
Temperature: 4/9
Moisture: 5/9
Nutrients: 4/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Does it produce strawberries?: No, it produces small, dry fruits that are not edible.
Is it invasive?: No, it is a well behaved native plant that spreads slowly.

Where the name comes from

Potentilla comes from the Latin potens, meaning powerful, referring to supposed medicinal properties. The species name sterilis highlights that it does not produce the edible fruit of its relative, the strawberry.

Good to know

The species name sterilis means sterile, referring to its lack of edible fruit.
It is a classic indicator of woodland clearings.
It spreads slowly by runners.

Keep your barren strawberry growing

This page is a general guide. Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked.

Get the app

This guide was generated with AI on October 19, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.