Coastal Strawberry ~ Bundle of 3 Bare-root
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$17.25
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Current Stock:
0
Other Names:
Wild Strawberry, Common Strawberry
Latin Name:
Fragaria Chiloensis
Available December 1, 2026.  Plants ship within 3 weeks of this date, shipped in the order they were received. NOTE: We will wait to ship your order until all your plants become available.
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The Coastal Strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis), also called Beach Strawberry, is a tough, glossy, evergreen groundcover of Pacific dunes and bluffs — and one of the two wild strawberries that were crossed to create every modern garden strawberry.2, 4

Offered as a bundle of 3 bare-root plants — see the Planting Guide tab for bare-root handling.

NOTE: Bare-root plants arrive dormant (no leaves) and without soil.

Edible & Medicinal Uses

Its small red berries are intensely, true-strawberry sweet — smaller than a supermarket berry but far more flavorful. Delicious eaten fresh by the handful, they also make exceptional jam and a fragrant addition to shortcakes and salads. The leaves make a pleasant, mild tea. The wild berries are gathered as a seasonal treat.1, 4

Ornamental Qualities

A standout evergreen groundcover, Coastal Strawberry forms a dense mat of thick, deep-green, glossy trifoliate leaves, spangled with white spring flowers and red runners, spreading readily to bind sandy or difficult soil. It's superb for erosion control, path edges, and the front of a bed, and beautiful woven among Woodland Strawberry and low natives.4

Environment & Culture

Ecology: Native to Pacific coastlines of North and South America, Coastal Strawberry grows on beaches, dunes, and coastal bluffs, exceptionally tolerant of sand, salt spray, and wind. Its flowers feed pollinators and its fruit feeds birds and small mammals, while its running mats stabilize fragile coastal soils.1, 2

Culture: Wild strawberries have been enjoyed as a seasonal food across the Northwest for generations, and F. chiloensis holds a special place as a wild parent of the cultivated strawberry. We offer it with respect for that knowledge and invite support for Indigenous-led restoration through our Charitable Giving page.4

In the Kitchen

Eat the little berries sun-warm and fresh — their concentrated flavor outshines any store berry. Gather extra for a jewel-bright jam, fold them into shortcake, or scatter them over a salad; the leaves make a gentle herbal tea. A handful goes a long way on flavor. (Growing and harvest details are on the Planting Guide tab.)

Attributes

  • Native Range: Pacific coasts of N. & S. America (beaches, dunes, bluffs)1
  • USDA Zones: ~4–93
  • Light: Full sun to part shade4
  • Water: Low; drought- and salt-tolerant once established4
  • Soil: Sandy to average, well-drained4
  • Habit: Evergreen groundcover; spreads by runners4
  • Bloom: White, spring–early summer4
  • Edible: Small, intensely sweet berries; leaves for tea4

References

  1. Wikipedia / WNPS, Fragaria chiloensis.
  2. Pojar, J. & MacKinnon, A., Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast, 2014.
  3. USDA PLANTS Database, Fragaria chiloensis.
  4. Portland Nursery; Woodbrook Native Plant Nursery, Fragaria chiloensis.

Planting Guide: Coastal Strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis) — Bundle of 3 Bare-root

Tip: Use it as an edible, evergreen, soil-binding groundcover in sun — it excels in sandy, salty, drought-prone spots where lawns and fussier plants fail.

When Your Plant Arrives

Open the box promptly. Your plant travels dormant — no leaves and no soil — which is normal and the healthiest way for it to ship. Keep the roots moist and cool, and unwrap them only when you’re ready to plant. Aim to get it into the ground or a pot within a day or two; if you can’t, tuck the roots into damp soil, sawdust, or a bucket of moist material and hold it somewhere cool and out of frost. Don’t let the roots dry out or sit in standing water. If anything looks amiss, please contact customer service within 7 days of delivery and we’ll make it right.

Choosing a Site

Light: Full sun to part shade.

Soil: Sandy to average, well-drained; tolerates poor, salty coastal ground.

Space: 12–18 in apart; it fills in by runners.

Planting Steps

Plant in fall or spring.

Set the crown right at soil level — not buried (a buried crown rots; too high dries out). Firm gently, water in, and mulch lightly.

Watering & Care

Establishment: Water regularly the first season to knit in.

After establishment: Notably drought- and salt-tolerant; occasional water improves fruiting.

Maintenance: Let runners root to fill gaps; thin and refresh the patch every few years.

Protection

Deer: Sometimes nibbled.

Wildlife: Flowers for pollinators, fruit for birds; the glossy mat stabilizes soil and banks.

Companions: Woodland strawberry, redwood sorrel.

Harvest Basics

Season: Late spring to summer.

Use: Small but intensely sweet — best fresh by the handful; also jam, shortcake, and salads, and the leaves make a mild tea.