Barren Strawberry (Waldsteinia ternata): Evergreen Ground Cover for Shade

Barren strawberry is a low, mat-forming evergreen perennial with strawberry-like leaves and yellow flowers in spring. Unlike true strawberries, it does not produce edible fruit, but it forms a reliable, weed-suppressing ground cover for shade.

Botanical Profile

• Family: Rosaceae
• Genus: Waldsteinia
• Species: ternata

Features

Forms a dense mat 4–6 inches tall, spreading by rhizomes. Leaves are trifoliate, glossy, evergreen. Yellow, 5-petaled flowers in spring. No fleshy fruit. Very tidy, non-aggressive.

Culture

Part to full shade. Average, well-drained soil. Drought-tolerant once established. Hardy in USDA zones 4–8. Low maintenance.

Uses

Ground cover under trees, shade borders, woodland gardens, edging. Deer resistant.