PlantFiles: Indian Strawberry, Mock Strawberry
Duchesnea indica

A creeping perennial from India, China and Japan.

Has 3-palmate leaves with elongated ovate, toothed, slightly hairy and deeply veined leaflets. Bears solitary, 5 petalled, bright yellow flowers with a conspicuous green calyces. Bright red Strawberry like (in appearance) fruits follow the flowers.

Flowers Late May - September

Will tolerate virtually any situation but prefers humus rich, fertile soil in shade. This ability to live in many situations and the fact that it spreads very quickly by long reaching stolon runners can easily make this an invasive weed which escapes into the wild. The eventual spread is almost indefinite in garden situations it enjoys.

The fruits are edible but don't be fooled, they don't taste like Strawberries and are very dry and unpalateble.

Divide plants by the rooted plantlets along the stolons, it's much easier to propagate the plant this way than by seed.

Interesting plant with a long season but be aware it may escape out into the wild and/or take over the area it's planted in.

This ground cover is very vigorous, and the flowers and berries are both quite attractive. The birds seem to like the berries on mine. It can be invasive so be careful where you put it.

A delightful ground cover, full and lush in morning sun and afternoon shade in hot areas, but you have to let it be happy where IT wants to be. Readily jumps walkways and migrates towards water. The red berries and yellow flowers can't be beat for colour or bird visits. The seeds are plentiful so clip off the red berries to prevent seedlings. The plant will travel underground enough without them!

According to the Peterson Field Guide to Medicinal Plants, In Asia, whole plant poultice or wash was used to treat abcesses, boils, burns, insect stings, eczema, ringworm, rheumatism and traumatic injuries. Whole-plant tea used for laryingitis and coughs. Flower tea was used to stimulate blood circulation.

This is a small plant, but attractive and charming. In the past I have seen red, strawberry-like berries on it. It seems to prefer shade, and moist soil.

I had been fighting this plant for years because of it's ability to invade other garden areas. However, I have come to realize that this plant is actually beneficial as a ground cover. The birds do like the berries. So, I am going to let them naturalize my yard but control them somewhat.

This little plant was growing in my shady back yard when I bought my house. In my opinion it is not very attractive. It spreads vigorously and the birds in my area don't seem to like the berries. It was a pain in the neck to remove. If you leave a tiny piece of it anywhere it will grow back. I have spent several summers trying to weed out stray clumps of it.

This plant likes moist areas, and can spread as if by magic. I think mine spread because of my chickens dispersing the seed in my yard. What started out in a patch way to the back of my property is now growing in at least three large unconnected patches in my front yard. While great for color and erosion control, it will quickly take over an area and is a real pain to get rid of once established. I would recommend this plant only for areas that you want to have some kind of low cover in where nothing else will grow.

very annoying and unattracting plant spent months trying to clean the plant out of my yard and spreds very quickly
the foul smell scares away birds and attracts beetles and other insects that eat other plants
deadly if ingested other sites are wrong , my cousin ate a handfull in our childhood and was found later,dead in the woods
only deadly if eaten in numbers, but only if you eat one it causes dirrea and abdonimal pains and cramps

Mock Strawberry grows all over the shady parts of my property and especially in the woods. It's a vigorous spreading plant and is invasive.

The fruit is tasteless but not toxic. It's woody and therefor unpalatable.

Much better alternatives can be planted. Native wild strawberries can put into it's place. Animals and people both can enjoy the berries, giving it actual value. Tea make the leaves also add value to the wild strawberry plants.

If you just like the yellow flowers, then several Cinquefoil (Potentilla) species can be substituted as many resemble the plant though without the berries.

Here in Nashville, TN, this plant is a widespread noxious weed. I had always assumed it to be a native plant, and I'm
quite surprised to learn that it is actually an exotic! Don't
plant it, please! Real strawberries, such as the native F. virginica, or the English woodland strawberry, F. vesca,
are just as easy to grow, far more attractive, and produce delicious berries, too.

But for what it's worth, this weed prefers damp, partially shaded areas....

Negative isn't strong enough to express my hatred of this plant. I missed pulling out all that I could last spring when my daughter was born. Now, this damn plant has smothered two hostas, is giving the creeping jenny a run for it and has prevented any seeds from last years cleome from sprouting. I HATE THESE PLANTS. Neither the birds, squirrels nor chipmunks will eat the berries.