It was from attending a seminar presentation given years ago, that I developed an appreciation for the strawberry plant. The presenter was a graduate student who had just concluded several years of research on the Chilean Strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis). Though the talk was quite technical, it was anything but boring. The amazing little plant is native in two continents, both South and North America. It is difficult to comprehend how any plant can thrive in nearly a continuous stretch of 30,000 miles from the tip of the Southern Hemisphere (Chile) following the Pacific coast north, up to Alaska. To add to its amazing adaptability, it is also found growing on the mountain slopes in Hawaii. As gardeners, we give our best effort to pamper certain desirable, but fickle plants. We’ve come to realize that for some plants if growing conditions are not ideal: humidity, temperature, water requirements, soil conditions, drainage, susceptibility to insects and disease, sunlight levels, etc., they can stress, fade or die. For a single plant species to have conquered all those conditions along with the expansive environmental range, the Chilean Strawberry is a botanical wonder.

What is the significance of Chilean Strawberries to horticulture?

It is one of the parents of our modern garden strawberry. One might think a plant with a line of those genetic traits ought to be utilized for more purposes, even ornamentally that is if only the strawberry plant had more attractive qualities. Enter the Pink Panda Strawberry in the mid-’90s. I was working in a theme park and always in search of unique plants to provide interest to our guests. Rather than the usual small white flowers, this strawberry plant has pink flowers. An additional bonus, Pink Panda yields delicious strawberries throughout the summer. We positioned Pink Pandas overflowing in containers near park benches and on waist-high walls; easily visible and accessible to guests. Comments from surveys stated they didn’t expect and were pleasantly surprised to see strawberries growing in the floral displays. We spotted guests admiring and snacking on them throughout the summer. When we added the variegated strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis ‘Variegata’) with attractive streaks of white on green foliage and they too were a hit. The variety Lipstick, with carmen red flowers is another strawberry available, both attractive and tasty.

strawberries in pot
Berried Treasure White (Flowered) Strawberry

Strawberries: A member of the working class takes the stage

Those breakthrough-berries lead us to where we are today with an exciting line-up from Proven Winners aptly named: Berried Treasure Red, Berried Treasure Pink and recently Berried Treasure White strawberries. When mature, expect plants to reach 12-16” height with an 18-24” spread. Best results for optimum bloom and berry require a minimum of six hours of full sun. Evident in the images here, Proven Winners models a variety of creative placements of strawberries in containers, hanging baskets and window boxes. 

berried treasure strawberries
Berried Treasure Red
Photo: Proven Winners

The most memorable gardens are those that offer more to our sensory perceptions than sight and smell.

We treasure our flowers for the wonderful visual and fragrant sensory qualities they provide. Flowers are the Main Show, the performers in the garden. Strawberry plants, not unlike a potato or corn plant, are functional utility workers, no make-up or classy attire. The decorative strawberry plants are game-changers. They take us to another sense beyond what we see and smell. For all their beauty and accolades, of the vast number of flowers we use, most never deserve the compliment of looking good and tasting delicious

Photo: ABZ Seeds

It is a serendipitous find when a plant previously known for production use earns a place in the flower garden. It occurs when we take a closer look, find a new feature or see the plant in a different light. Greater appreciation of the ordinary can and has produced pleasant surprises in garden centers. Cheers to those in the horticulture world who carefully patiently observe and explore the possibilities of common plants. Frankly, we are fortunate that through the years it was done with the humble strawberry of genetic lineage spanning two continents.

You can even combine the strawberry plant into an arrangement with other flowers.

Floral Arrangement – Featuring Strawberries
Photo: Proven Winners


-Rob McCartney, Horticulturist

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