Fragaria vesca - Wild Strawberry - (Rosaceae)

The Strawberry is a member of the rose family (Rosaceae) and Wild Strawberries are very common throughout the UK and Europe. Because of their low-growing habit, it is not always easy to spot them.

Wild Strawberry

Hedgerows and dry banks are good places to look. The flowers appear in spring and early summer, with the fruits ripening from July onwards.

Wild Strawberry

The flavour of these tiny strawberries is very sweet and intense when they are ripe - even better than the cultivated ones. They are much prized in northern and central Europe, including Slovenia and Bulgaria, where they are used to make preserves and fruit sauces which are particularly good with ice cream.

The pictures on this page were taken in West Wales in April (the flowers) and July (the fruit).