Indian Mock Strawberry: Weedy Lookalike You Shouldn't Eat

Indian mock strawberry (Potentilla indica) mimics true strawberry but gives itself away with yellow flowers (edible strawberries have white or pink) and bland, dry red fruit. It's a non-native weed that spreads by runners and seeds.

Control Methods

• Mechanical: Easy to pull—your first line of defense.
• Spot treatment: Organic or synthetic non-selective herbicides work on individual plants.
• Lawn control: Broadleaf herbicides like Bonide Weed Beater, Ortho MAX, or Bayer Season Long Control provide excellent suppression in turf.

Don't confuse it with wild strawberry (Fragaria virginiana), which has white flowers and tasty fruit.