Strawberry
Fragaria × ananassa
Also called Strawberries
Garden plant · Herbs, veg & fruitCut the runners off unless you want more plants — every one is fruit you didn't get.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Medium
- Water
- Every 3 daysWater the ground — water at the base, in the morning, not over the leaves.
- Light
- Full sun
- Feed
- Once a fortnight
- Humidity
- Average
- Hardiness
- Hardy — a very cold winter RHS H6, to -20°C
- Size
- 0.3 m tall · 0.75 m across
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Origin
- Cultivated hybrid
Is it safe for pets and people?
PetsSafe for pets
PeopleNothing recorded against it
Safe to eat: fruit.
Checked against ASPCA and RHS on 2026-07-31.
A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
First signs of trouble
- A fruit lying on damp soil shows a small pale soft patch that furs over grey within a day; the fruit resting on straw stays clean.Grey mould · disease
- A plant colours red and wilts in a moist bed, and lifts out with almost no root; fat C-shaped white grubs are in the compost under it.Vine weevil · pest
- A ripening berry hollowed out on its underside overnight, with a silver trail leading off it.Slugs and snails · pest