Pronounced (approximate): poh-ten-TILL-uh IN-dih-kuh
A low, spreading non-native plant with yellow flowers and strawberry-like foliage.
Family Rosaceae
Life cycle Creeping perennial
Blooms Spring–summer
Height 3–8 inches
Habitat Lawns, gardens, woodland edges and disturbed ground
Other common names
Indian Strawberry · False Strawberry
Mock Strawberry is a creeping member of the rose family. Its low foliage and red fruit resemble strawberries, but its yellow flowers provide an important clue. Look at the flower, the leaf and the growth habit together.
A typical flower has five yellow petals, green sepals beneath them and many stamens with yellow anthers. The flowers occur singly. A close-up is useful for separating the petals from the green structures underneath.
Above-ground runners, called stolons, extend across the soil and produce new plants. This spreading habit helps Mock Strawberry persist in lawns, including places that are regularly mowed. Trace a runner visually to see how neighboring leaf clusters are connected.
Flowers appear in spring and summer, followed by rounded red fruit with a bumpy surface. Compare photographs taken at different stages: the yellow flower and red fruit can look surprisingly unrelated when viewed separately.
Older references may call this plant Duchesnea indica. The name used here is Potentilla indica. Indian Strawberry and False Strawberry are other common names.
Count the leaflets, inspect the edge of a leaflet and look for a runner. Photograph these features along with the flower to make a more informative identification record.
Select a photograph to open the slideshow.
Native to Asia; introduced across much of eastern and parts of western North America.
Documented U.S. states: AL, AZ, AR, CA, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, MS, MO, NE, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WV, WI.
Observation maps show reported sightings and do not define the complete range.
Practice with the Wildflower Quiz or explore more species in the Flower Guide.
Field photographs: Where’s Wildlife.