Common Name:

General Information

Fragaria nilgerrensis is a herbaceous perennial plant producing a rosette of leaves from a central rootstock; it can grow 5 - 25cm tall and wide. The plant spreads freely by means of stolons to form a colony[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - central and southern China, northeast India, Nepal, northern Vietnam

Habitat

Valley forests, forest margins, thickets, meadows on mountain slopes, valleys; at elevations from 700 - 3,000 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.20 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Fragaria nilgerrensis is native at moderate to high elevations (up to 3,000 metres) in central to southern China, growing in hardiness zones 7 - 9.
Prefers a fertile, well-drained, moisture retentive soil in a sunny position[]. Tolerates semi-shade though fruit production will be reduced[].
During the growing season new plants are produced on runners - prostrate stems emerging from the leaf axils of mature plants. These runners are used as propagation material[].
Likes a mulch of pine or spruce leaves[, ].

Edible Uses

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

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

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 mid summer in order to allow the plants to become established for the following years crop[]. 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.