Coastal Strawberry

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Other Names:
Beach Strawberry, Chilean Strawberry, Sand Strawberry
Latin Name:
Fragaria Chiloensis
Size *

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

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.

Pot Sizing Guide

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Planting Guide: Coastal Strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis)

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 and lift your plant out gently, holding the pot rather than the stem. Leave it in its biodegradable eco-pot for now — the roots are settled and don’t need disturbing yet. Give it a slow, thorough drink until water runs through the bottom, then set it somewhere bright but sheltered, out of harsh afternoon sun, drying wind, and frost. Let it rest and acclimate there for a few days before planting, so the move from our greenhouse to your garden is a gentle one. If anything doesn’t look right, please contact customer service within 7 days of delivery and we’ll take care of you.

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.

If it came in a biodegradable eco-pot, plant it pot and all — the pot is pressed from composted cow manure, so it melts into the soil and gives the young roots their first feed. No need to remove it.

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.