Do Wild Strawberries Have Yellow Flowers?

Wild Strawberry Flowers

• Wild strawberry flowers appear in late spring and are white with yellow centers. The plants resemble cultivated strawberries, with clusters of three leaflets on slender stems. The leaves are toothed and rounded in shape.

Mock Strawberries

• Mock strawberries are a cultivated plant that has naturalized in some woodland areas. The plant has leaves that resemble those of a wild strawberry plant, and has yellow flowers, rather than white. The fruits form in early to midsummer and are bright red with a bumpy appearance. They are dry and bland tasting and are unfit for human consumption, although birds may eat them. This plant may become aggressive when planted in moist, partially shaded soil.

Harvesting Wild Strawberries

• Take a field book to positively identify berries in the wild. All wild strawberries are safe to eat, although several bush berries are poisonous. Pull the strawberries gently off the plants and store them in a thin layer in a basket or box. Place them in a cooler as soon as possible and use within one day. Commercially grown strawberries are bred for long storage life. Wild strawberries have a sweet, juicy flavor, but decay quickly.

Uses

• Do not pick the fruit of a mock strawberry, but leave it for birds and other wildlife. Pick wild strawberries, identified by white blossoms and smooth fruit, when it is fully ripe. Eat the berries fresh or use them in jams, pies and syrups. Dry the berries or make them into a flavorful fruit leather.