Indian strawberry is a low-growing that spreads through lawns and bears small red, strawberry-like fruit. Its yellow flowers distinguish it from white-flowered wild strawberries. It is also called mock strawberry.
Appearance
Growth form
This low perennial usually stays about 3–8 in (8–20 cm) tall and spreads by that root at the .
Leaves
Each leaf usually has three toothed leaflets.
Flowers
A flower has five yellow petals and is usually less than 1 in (2.5 cm) wide.
Fruit
The upright, bright red fruit is strawberry-like but small, dry, and bland.
Woodland strawberry has white flowers, while Indian strawberry has yellow flowers. Both can have three-part leaves and small red fruit, so flowers are the easiest photo clue.
Why they get mixed up · Both are low plants with runners, three-part leaves, and red strawberry-like fruit.
Where it lives
Typical habitats
lawns
moist woods
disturbed ground
Range
It is native from parts of Asia to the Russian Far East and Malesia, but it is now introduced across much of eastern, central, and coastal North America. It is considered invasive in Minnesota and can displace native plants in parts of the United States.
Preferred conditions
It tolerates partial shade and close mowing and often spreads in moist ground.
Growing it
Propagation
It reproduces by seed and by runners that make new roots and plants at their nodes.