Hmmm, the photo looks pretty close. The flowers are yellow as opposed
to the usual white strawberry flowers. Perhaps it is Indian
strawberry.

It's growing in a shady patch where not much likes to grow (beneath a
large pine tree), so perhaps I'll let it go for a while as a ground
cover and keep an eye on it so it doesn't become too invasive.

Many thanks for everyone's input.

-Fleemo



ostheap (VoySager) wrote in message ...
Fleemo wrote:

A little patch of what I believe to be wild strawberry (or ornamental
strawberry, I'm guessing) sprang up in my perennial garden this
season. The leaves look like strawberry leaves, but the strawberries
are small, pistachio-sized fruits that don't look particularly
appetizing. The foliage is fairly attractive, but I'm wondering if
there's a downside to giving it some space in my garden. Is it
invasive?






That might be Duchesnea indica, Indian Strawberry or Mock Strawberry:

http://www.missouriplants.com/Yellow...dica_page.html


In southeastern PA, it's a common weed of lawns and borders, mildly invasive
via vigorous stolons, but relatively easy to control by hand-weeding or lawn
herbicide.

Some websites consider it useful as a groundcover, and it probably could be
used in that manner here, though I wouldn't choose it over better plants. It
does grow well in no direct sunlight/high shade.

Bill