Mendel’s Gardens

Waldsteinia fragarioides

Barren Strawberry · Appalachian Barren Strawberry

Family RosaceaeGenus Waldsteinia

Also published as Geum fragarioides, Dalibarda fragarioides. You are in the right place.

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
Herbaceous perennialPlant Finder
Habit
Perennial, Forb/herbPLANTS Database
Height
0.25-0.5 ftPlant Finder
Spread
0.5-1 ftPlant Finder
Flower
Showy; yellowPlant Finder
Blooms
April to MayPlant Finder
Native range
Eastern United StatesPlant Finder
Native range
Canada, lower 48 statesPLANTS Database
Hardiness zones
4-7Plant Finder
Note
GBIF moves this species to Geum; WFO, POWO and Plant Finder keep WaldsteiniaGBIF Backbone Taxonomy

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun to part shade
Soil
Average, medium, well-drained; prefers humusy and slightly acidic
Watering
Medium

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Plant Finder — Missouri Botanical Garden; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

This source reports three treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 28, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow on the surface — do not cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 98 days to germinate.

95% germination in 28–98 days.

95%, but drawn out over ten weeks with the rush of it in the eleventh. Light, and patience.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, WaldsteiniaPublic domain
Show the original text
Waldsteinia (Rosaceae). W. fragrarioides requires light. Seeds germ. 70L(95% in 4-14 w with a sharp maximum in rate in the 11th w), 40-70L(58% in 2-5 w with a maximum in the rate in the 3rd w), and none in any dark treatment.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Waldsteinia. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 1, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    Deno gives no length for this period; three months is his standard cycle.

  2. Sow on the surface — do not cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

about 3 months from start to sowing. Then 35 days to germinate.

58% germination in 14–35 days.

A cold period cuts the wait from fourteen weeks to five, and costs 37 points of germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, WaldsteiniaPublic domain
Show the original text
Waldsteinia (Rosaceae). W. fragrarioides requires light. Seeds germ. 70L(95% in 4-14 w with a sharp maximum in rate in the 11th w), 40-70L(58% in 2-5 w with a maximum in the rate in the 3rd w), and none in any dark treatment.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Waldsteinia. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

    Nothing.

No stated waiting before sowing.

0% germination.

Nothing in any dark treatment. Deno opens the entry with it: this one requires light.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, WaldsteiniaPublic domain
Show the original text
Waldsteinia (Rosaceae). W. fragrarioides requires light. Seeds germ. 70L(95% in 4-14 w with a sharp maximum in rate in the 11th w), 40-70L(58% in 2-5 w with a maximum in the rate in the 3rd w), and none in any dark treatment.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Waldsteinia. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record; the step names come from a fixed list.