Fragaria nilgerrensis — Practical Plants

Taxonomy and growth

Family: Rosaceae
Genus: Fragaria
Life cycle: perennial
Height: 0.2 m
Fertility: Insects
Flower type: hermaphrodite
Pollinators: Insects

Uses

Edible uses

Fruit - raw or cooked. The fruit is white with a pale pink tint, it is of inferior quality^[1].

Plant part: Fruit

Environment

Range: E. Asia - Himalayas frm India to Nepal, Sikkim and western China.
Habitat: Found at elevations up to 1,500 metres in the Himalayas. Meadows on mountain slopes, forests in valleys at elevations of 700 - 3000 metres in south and western China^[5].
Light: full sun
Shade tolerance: light shade
Water: moderate
Soil textures: sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH: acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage: well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil: No
Drought: intolerant

Propagation

Seed - sow early spring in a greenhouse. The seed can take 4 weeks or more to germinate. The seedlings are very small and slow-growing at first, but then grow rapidly. Prick them out into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out during the summer. Division of runners, preferably done in July/August in order to allow the plants to become established for the following years crop^[3]. They can also be moved in the following spring if required, though should not then be allowed to fruit in their first year. The runners can be planted out direct into their permanent positions.

Cultivation

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though based on the natural range of the plant it is unlikely to succeed in any but the mildest parts of the country. It is a vigorous, spreading plant. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Prefers a fertile, well-drained, moisture retentive soil in a sunny position^[3]. Tolerates semi-shade though fruit production will be reduced^[6]. Likes a mulch of pine or spruce leaves^[2]^[4].

Fragaria bracteataWoodland Strawberry
Fragaria californicaCalifornian Strawberry
Fragaria chiloensisBeach Strawberry
Fragaria daltoniana

References

Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169
↩
Philbrick H. and Gregg R. B. Companion Plants. Watkins 1979-00-00
↩
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
↩1 ↩2
Baines. C. Making a Wildlife Garden.
↩
Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Flora of China
↩
Simmons A. E. Simmons' Manual of Fruit. David & Charles. 1978-00-00 ISBN 0-7153-7607-1
↩