Are wild strawberries OK to eat?
Yes, contrary to what some may think, wild strawberries are not poisonous. In fact, the berries are edible and tasty. There is, however, a similar plant, called Indian mock strawberry, which has yellow flowers (rather than white), that produces berries with little to no flavor.
Are these wild strawberries?
Wild and mock strawberries look very similar….Wild Strawberries vs. Mock Strawberries.
| Wild Strawberry | Mock Strawberry | |
|---|---|---|
| Taste | Sweet | Bitter |
| Texture | Juicy | Dry and crunchy |
| Flower | White with five pedals | Yellow with five pedals |
| Edible | Yes | No |
How did mock strawberries get in my yard?
The relatively sudden appearance of this plant in my yard is likely the result of birds eating drupes elsewhere and spreading them to my yard2. Mock strawberry is an herbaceous perennial plant of a height between three and eight inches and spreads by runners or hairy stolons3, 5 into large colonies of plants over time.
What happens when you eat wild strawberries?
The leaf is still the most commonly used part of the plant when it comes to diarrhea, however. Even popping a few in your mouth from time to time is a great source of vitamins B, C, and E. So, not only are wild strawberries completely safe to eat, they have more health benefits than you could have realized.
Where can I find wild strawberries?
Wild strawberries are found throughout the U.S. and Canada. The plants prefer dry locations with rich loamy soil. They pop up near the edges of woods, in yards, and along roadsides.
Where can I find mock strawberries?
Mock strawberry is found in lawns and woods. It grows as a dense, low-lying ground cover. Can be a weedy pest of turf grass and lawns. Has shown potential to be invasive and displace native species in parts of the United States.