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mock strawberry

Potentilla indica

Mock strawberries are small plants that look like real strawberries but are not edible. They have bright green leaves and pretty yellow flowers that turn into tiny red fruits.

Habitat: Urban areas

Appearance

The mock strawberry is a low-growing plant with trifoliate leaves, resembling true strawberries. It has distinctive small, solitary yellow flowers and produces round, bright red fruits with visible seeds on their surface.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderRosalesFamilyRosaceaeGenusPotentilla
mock strawberry
deciduous trait badgeflowering trait badgefruit_bearing trait badgepollinator_magnet trait badge
mock strawberry

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

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Interesting facts

Its scientific name, *Potentilla indica*, means 'from India,' where it originally came from!

Look closely! Unlike true strawberries with white flowers, this plant boasts tiny yellow blossoms!

Real strawberries hide their seeds inside; mock strawberries wear them on the outside!

Though perfectly safe to eat, its red fruits are quite bland and don't taste much like berries!

Special abilities

Ability

Quick Colonizer

Mock strawberry can grow long runners, or stolons, that spread out and root, helping it quickly cover ground.

Ability

Seed Spreader

It has bright red fruits that attract birds and small animals, which then help disperse its tiny seeds.

Ability

Year-Round Green

In milder climates, its leaves stay green all year, allowing it to keep making food even in winter.

Measurements & details

Height
5-15 cm
Spread
30-100 cm
Flower Size
1-2 cm
Bloom Season
Spring to fall
Edible
Yes
Toxicity
None
Lifecycle
Perennial
Pollination Method
Insect

Ecological connections

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Don't eat the fruit, as it's not safe like real strawberries.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall is mock strawberry?

5-15 cm

How wide does mock strawberry spread?

30-100 cm

How big are the flowers on mock strawberry?

1-2 cm

When does mock strawberry bloom?

Spring to fall

Is mock strawberry edible?

Yes

Is mock strawberry toxic?

None

What is mock strawberry's lifecycle?

Perennial

How is mock strawberry pollinated?

Insect

Snap Map

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Where to spot

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