Beach Strawberry Sand Strawberry

Beach strawberry is the native groundcover that blankets coastal bluffs and sandy margins from Alaska through the Pacific Northwest and down to South America. It spreads fast by runners into a dense, low mat of glossy, three-lobed leaves that turn red in fall. Five-petaled white flowers appear in spring, followed by small, edible strawberries that, while smaller than commercial varieties, contributed half the parentage of the modern garden strawberry. You find it wild on sandy soils near the coast, often growing with kinnikinnick and shore pine.

In Western Washington, beach strawberry is one of the best native groundcovers for sunny, well-drained sites. Full sun, sandy or gravelly soil, and the fast spreading habit mean it fills in quickly and suppresses weeds once established. It is rated Zone 4a through 8b and tolerates salt spray, wind exposure, and lean soils that would starve most groundcovers. No significant disease or pest concerns are tracked. The fall color is red, adding a seasonal change that most evergreen groundcovers lack. For a coastal garden, a parking strip with decent drainage, or any sunny site where you want a low-maintenance, native, fruit-producing groundcover, beach strawberry is an excellent choice.