Alpine Strawberries Compared With Coastal Strawberries

Alpine Strawberries

• The alpine strawberry (Fragaria vesca) has smaller leaves and fruit than both modern commercial varieties and the coastal strawberry. It was traditionally brewed into tea and used for medicine by Native Americans. Like the coastal strawberry, it bears green leaves in groups of three, and five-petaled flowers that form red berries. Alpine strawberries are rich in pectin. The diminutive, but flavorful, berries grow to just under a half-inch.

Growing Alpine Strawberries

• Alpine strawberries are slower to spread than coastal strawberries and have no runners, so they are easy to maintain. As a day-neutral variety, they are bear fruit all summer long. They are not very hardy plants, but are easy to grow from seed. The University of Minnesota Extension recommends planting alpine strawberries as a border to a perennial garden or as a ground cover. Berries are tiny and limited in number, so this plant is often used as an ornamental.

Coastal Strawberries

• The coastal, or beach strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis) is the forerunner to modern commercial varieties. It is adaptable to a range of environments, and will grow with vigor even under rough conditions. Rather than producing throughout the summer, the beach strawberry is a June-bearing variety that produces fruit just once a year. Its 1-inch berries are larger than alpine strawberries. It also known for its fragrance and flavor, according to Washington State University Beach Watchers. Coastal strawberries are distinguished from their relatives by their dark, glossy and leather-like leaves that have a hairy underside. The runners are hairy as well.

Growing Coastal Strawberries

• Thanks to their resilience and drought resistance, coastal strawberries will grow and flourish just about everywhere. They can grow in part shade or full sun and in sand or rock, but their preference is for sandy, well-draining soil. Their runners spread rapidly. Washington State University Island County Extension recommends planting cuttings of the coastal strawberry in 4-inch pots, then later planting them about a foot-and-a-half apart.