The fake strawberry has already fooled many a hobby gardener because it looks very similar to a cultivated strawberry. Given its enchanting beauty, no one takes offense at the similarity of its fruits to strawberries. Are mock strawberries edible?
Are mock strawberries edible?
Mock strawberries are edible and not poisonous, but their taste is rather bitter and not very tasty compared to cultivated strawberries or wild strawberries. Nevertheless, they are an attractive ornamental plant for the garden.
Not very tempting wholesomeness
Mock strawberry and garden strawberry both come from the rose family. Although both plants produce edible fruits, the degree of their edibility varies widely. The mock strawberry does not come close to the tempting enjoyment of juicy, sweet cultivated strawberries. It can't even hold a candle to the small wild strawberries. At least it is not poisonous and therefore edible, although very bitter in taste.
Looks top taste
The flawed strawberry compensates for the disadvantage of its unappetizing aroma with seductive attributes that are pleasing to the eye. Therefore, gardeners introduced the Indian strawberry to Europe from Southeast Asia more than 200 years ago. Since the ornamental plant is able to spread excellently through runners, it is often found in the wild. These characteristics justify the high popularity of an Indian mock strawberry in the ornamental garden:
- delicate leaflets in a pretty rosette arrangement
- golden yellow flowers from May to October
- delicate scent attracts butterflies and bumblebees
- decorative, bright red fruits in summer and autumn
Since the false strawberry thrives in almost any soil, it adorns even problematic locations with perpetual blooms. It serves as a tasteful ground cover under trees or gives the dreary courtyard a fairytale character. Their strong foliage can withstand the frosty temperatures well into winter. Here the glittering dewdrops in the morning drive away the wintry melancholy. Who cares about the bitter taste of a mock strawberry?
Tips & Tricks
The false strawberry is immediately revealed as such due to a special attribute. Their fruits always point towards the sky, while wild strawberries and garden strawberries hang down.