Is there a weed in our area that looks like strawberry plant

And why couldn't I put a question mark at the end of that sentence? Maybe too many characters.

OK, I have what looks like strawberries invading my raised bed. I kept meaning to get it out and now it's the plant that ate CA. It spreads just like a strawberry but, perhaps because of the automatic watering, it has huge leaves. Could this be a weed I don't know about, or did a bird deposit a seed of a real strawberry plant?

I might be able to use it as ground cover around the pond if it's not a weed, or pot some up for the RU.

I always think that the low-growing Potentilla sps. (Cinquefoils) look like strawberries, but they have small leaves (like the wild strawberries we had back east) not the large leaves you are describing. I am thinking of Potentilla reptans
http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?query_src=photos_index&where-taxon=Potentilla+reptans
or maybe Potentilla glandulosa, sticky cinquefoil
http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?query_src=photos_index&where-taxon=Potentilla+glandulosa

But not like commercial large leafed strawberries, I don't think any of the Potentillas are large-leaved. If you have a photo, post it on the Plant and Tree Identification Forum, there are some crackerjack ID'ers that hang out there now, make me look like the amateur I am.

~'spin!~

Pic. please ! LOL

Thanks for the effort, E. Nope, not Potentilla. I'll try to get a photo of it tomorrow, though it's hiding under the carrot tops, parsley, and asparagus.

OK, here's the pic.

Well, it certainly looks like strawberry. You know, I've never thought about strawberry from seed, but you do have all of the strawberry fields on the back side of the hill on Sleeping Indian...perhaps bird-carried seed. You probably have other fields of berries around you there also.

That's what I thought. And since it's getting regular water, it's growing like mad. No doubt if I transplant it, it's a goner, being so used to water. :-( But I'm dumb enough to try. :-)

KC, does it bear fruit? There is a kind of non-fruiting ground cover that looks like that. All the landscapers around here were using it around Canyon Lake, and some of the other developments that went in about that time.
Never knew what it was called. If it is wet when you transplant, and I'd wait til Feb. or March, it will turn into a weed with enough water.
WIB!
SW

I had it 5 years ago. It was a ground cover. Cannot remember the name but it sucked as a ground cover. I switched to Australian Violet. Much more hardy and looks great.

Haven't seen any flowers or fruit, SW. At least it's easy to pull up if it gets to be a problem.

SK, we cross-posted. Glad someone has had experience with it. It will go in the compost bin, which is just a good pitch away from the bed!

This message was edited Sep 19, 2009 9:06 PM

skwinter: You're probably thinking of Fragaria chiloensis...the smaller leafed ground cover ...which does bear edible fruit, just not like the traditional strawberries.

If anybody wants it, I'll bring it to the RU. There's plenty of it.

If you bring some, I'll take some of it. I've got empty beds with water to check it out and see what it is and does.

Will do.

Your plants MAY be Fragaria chiloensis Aulon ," a male selection that has larger than typical leaves and flowers," according to The Southern California Native Flower Garden, by Susan Van Atta ,that I bought today. Really neat book!
Carol

You're joking, it's native? I thought the native strawberries were all small plants. Interesting. I think I have a coupon for Borders that is going to get used! Thanks, Carol.