While it doesn't produce edible fruits, barren strawberry still makes a great groundcover for the shade garden. It has waxy, buttercup-like flowers and, in most areas, is evergreen with strawberry-like foliage.

Barren strawberry will thrive in humus-rich soil. While it can take quite a bit of sunlight, it prefers shady, cool spots out of the dry heat. Works very well in containers.

Deer resistant with few pest problems, barren strawberry is a great plant. We have flip-flopped over the years in deciding which genus barren strawberry resides: Waldsteinia or Geum. For now, we'll go with the former.

Uses: Groundcover, evergreen, deer resistant, container gardens
Bloom time: April - June

Height: 4 to 6 inches
Space: 8 to 12 inches