Barren Strawberry Plant Profile

Barren Strawberry Plant Profile

Barren Strawberry (Waldsteinia fragarioides formerly known as Geum fragarioides and  Dalibarda fragarioides) is a perennial that is native to the Eastern United States. It is also known as the Appalachian barren strawberry. It is a member of the Rose family. It is related to the nonnative Siberian barren strawberry (Waldsteinia ternata).

It has pretty yellow flowers that bloom in spring. The inedible fruits develop shortly afterward – hence its common name of “barren” strawberry.

Barren Strawberry prefers to grow in part- to full-sun. It tolerates a wide range of soil conditions.

Barren Strawberry is hardy to USDA Zones 3 to 7. It is found naturally in forests and along stream banks.

It spreads by underground rhizomes into a dense, low mat and it can be used as a groundcover. Unlike many other natives, it is evergreen. The foliage turns a pretty bronze in winter.

It is pollinated by a variety of small bees and it is deer-resistant.

Barren Strawberry can be grown from seed, but it is much easier to propagate it by division.

Barren Strawberry: You Can Grow That!

 

The video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine.

Audio, Video, Photos, and Text by Kathy Jentz

Editing by Aicha Bangoura

Additional images from Wikimedia Commons.

 

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If you liked this video, we think you will like these other Plant Profiles:

~ Sundrop Plant Profile

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2026/03/sundrops-plant-profile.html

~ Amur Adonis  Plant Profile

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2024/03/amur-adonis-plant-profile.html

~ Winter Aconite Plant Profile  

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2022/02/winter-aconite-plant-profile.html

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Monday Thoughts: "It’s spring again. I can hear the birds sing again. See the flowers start to bud. See young people fall in love. " ~ Lou Rawls

"It’s spring again. I can hear the birds sing again. See the flowers start to bud. See young people fall in love. " ~ Lou Rawls

GardenDC Podcast Episode 280: Design Inspiration from Public Gardens

In this episode of GardenDC: The Podcast about Mid-Atlantic Gardening, we talk with landscape designer Teresa Watkins, about visiting public gardens for design inspiration. The plant profile is on Barren Strawberry and we share what's going on in the garden as well as some upcoming local gardening events in the What's New segment. We close out with the Last Word on "How to Prune Blueberry Bushes" from Christy Page of GreenPrints.

BTW, YOU can become a listener supporter for as little as $0.99 per month! 

See how at: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/gardendc/subscribe

If you liked this episode, you may also enjoy listening to:

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 167: Flinging with the Garden Tourist

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2023/09/gardendc-podcast-episode-167-flinging.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 78: Dumbarton Oaks

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2021/10/gardendc-podcast-episode-78-dumbarton.html

~ GardenDC Episode 32: Garden Tours

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2020/10/gardendc-podcast-episode-32-garden.html

Show Notes will be posted after 4/15/2026.

This episode is archived at: 

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1e96NOtAkFhiV6xV2pKCbx?si=ARvdaNPnRcywSa8hcAKWpg

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And be sure to leave us a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform plus share us on social media with #GardenDC, so other gardeners can find us too!

Episode Credits:
Host and Producer: Kathy Jentz

Music: Let the Sunshine by James Mulvany

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Teresa Watkins at Sudeley Castle, UK

Fenton Friday: Bulletin Board Refresh

Bulletin Board AFTER

Bullletin Board BEFORE

This week was another weather rollercoaster with windy, sunny days and cool, wet days -- and a few more days 80+ degrees!

The interns and I updated the shared Bulletin Board (shown above). It is shocking how fast the colors fade from the sun. We'll see how long this one remains bright and colorful.

We thinned the Kale seedlings. I saw some of the Peas are emerging and the row of Deer Tongue Lettuce seedlings are up. However, the Oakleaf Lettuce and Crisphead Lettuce 'Queen of Crunch' were not germinating, so we replaced them with 'Bloomsdale' Spinach and Arugula seeds today.

I harvested a few Aspargus spears and can see several more are popping up.

The Blackberry canes are leafing out and the Garlic is growing fast.

The Dahlia bed is looking pretty dead -- I'm not sure if the harsh winter actually did kill them all -- but I'll give them until late May to show signs up life before I give up on them. 

In the pollinator strip, seedlings are up for both the California Poppies and a Wildflower Mix continue to grow. The Mountain Mint is filling in there fast. I'm wondering if in a few years it will be ALL Mountain Mint there. That is not a bad thing, but I do like having some annual color and other perennial herbs and flowers there.

Next week, I hope to see the Radish seedlings up and I know the Carrots will take a few more weeks. I think this may be it for the cool-season crops as with the very warm temperatures we are having already, we may switch to warm-seasons sooner than normal.

What are you growing and harvesting in your garden this week?

About Fenton Friday: Every Friday during the growing season, I'll be giving you an update on my community garden plot at the Fenton Street Community Garden just across the street from my house in zone 7 Mid-Atlantic MD/DC border. I'm plot #16. It is a 10 ft x 20 ft space and this is our 15th year in the garden. (It opened in May 2011.) See past posts about our edible garden by putting "Fenton"  into the Search box above (at the top, left on this blog).

April 2026 issue of Washington Gardener Magazine: Foxgloves, Ovenbirds, Orchid Show, and much more…

The April 2026 issue of Washington Gardener Magazine is posted and archived online at:

 https://issuu.com/washingtongardener/docs/washington_gardener_magazine_april_2026

Inside this issue:

·         Fabulous Foxgloves
·         Tips for Garden Furniture Care
·         The Elusive Azalea Sphinx Moth
·         The Connective Power of Orchids
·         Ovenbirds Popping Up in Your Garden
·         What is it like to be a Judge at the Philly Flower Show?
·         Garden Book Reviews
·         Fibermaxxing Starts in the Garden
·         A New Trailing Tomato
·         The Elusive Azalea Sphinx Moth
·         What We Learned at Rooting DC 2026
·         Meet Alex Mudry-Till, Cut-Flower Farmer

·         and much more…

Note that any submissions, event listings, and advertisements for the May 2026 issue are due by April 15.

 >>  Subscribe to Washington Gardener Magazine today to have the monthly publication sent to your inbox as a PDF several days before it is available online. You can use the PayPal (credit card) online order form here: https://www.washingtongardener.com/index_files/subscribe.htm

Thyme Plant Profile

 

Thyme Plant Profile

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) was previously Origanum thymus and Thymus collinus. It is classified as a small subshrub or woody perennial.

It is native to Southern Europe and is in the mint family. It is hardy to USDA zones 5 to 9.

This herb has many cultivars and forms from prostrate to vertical and the foliage can be dark green, gray-green, or  variegated with a white edge.

It is used to flavor meat dishes, soups and stews, and Thanksgiving stuffing.

The key to growing it well is good drainage and full sun. Don’t overwater it, as it is susceptible to root rot. An ideal situation is to plant it overhanging a rock wall in soil amended with aged compost and chicken grit.

It can be grown in the garden or in a container. There is no need to fertilize it. Mulch it lightly in winter.

Thyme is drought-tolerant and deer-proof. Pollinators love it. Honeybees are especially attracted to the tiny pink-purple or white flowers.

To start new plants, it is best to take cuttings as it is difficult to grow thyme from seed.

When using it in cooking, pinch off the young stems and strip the leaves. For the best taste, harvest it just before bloom time. You can take up to a third of the plant at any one time, let it recover before harvesting from it again.

Thyme: You Can Grow That!

 

The video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine.

Audio, Video, Photos, and Text by Kathy Jentz

Video and Editing by Aicha Bangoura

 

➤ If you enjoy this video, please give it a thumbs up and subscribe to our Youtube channel (thank you!)

➤Remember to TURN ON notifications to know when our new videos are out

➤ FIND Washington Gardener Magazine ONLINE

~ WashingtonGardener.blogspot.com

~ http://twitter.com/WDCGardener

~ https://www.instagram.com/wdcgardener/

~ Facebook.com/WashingtonGardenerMagazine

~ Podcast: GardenDC

 

If you liked this video, we think you will like these other Plant Profiles:

~ Rosemary  Plant Profile

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2019/11/plant-profile-rosemary.html

~ Lavender  Plant Profile

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2020/06/plant-profile-lavender-lavandula-sp.html

~ Dill Plant Profile

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2025/04/dill-plant-profile.html

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Monday Thoughts: "A garden can be a single bloom in a pot, a houseplant, or an herb on a kitchen windowsill -- just a bit of green that pulls you from your busy mind, and back to earth." ~ Elizabeth Brown

"A garden can be a single bloom in a pot, a houseplant, or an herb on a kitchen windowsill -- just a bit of green that pulls you from your busy mind, and back to earth." 

~ Elizabeth Brown

GardenDC Podcast Episode 279: How and When to Prune Hydrangeas

In this episode of GardenDC: The Podcast about Mid-Atlantic Gardening, we talk with garden book* author Lorraine Ballato, about hydrangea pruning and growing tips. The plant profile is on Celandine Poppy and we share what's going on in the garden as well as some upcoming local gardening events in the What's New segment. We close out with the Last Word on "Beet Companion Plants" from Christy Page of GreenPrints.

*You can order Hydrangea Pruning at https://amzn.to/4sCh28t. This link is to our Amazon affiliate accounts and we may earn a few pennies from their sales, but this does not impact your purchase price.

BTW, YOU can become a listener supporter for as little as $0.99 per month! 

See how at: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/gardendc/subscribe

If you liked this episode, you may also enjoy listening to:

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 142: Hydrangea Care and Pruning

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2023/03/gardendc-podcast-episode-142-hydrangea.html

~ GardenDC Episode 60: Hydrangeas with Andrew Bunting

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2021/05/gardendc-podcast-episode-60-hydrangeas.html

Show Notes will be posted after 4/1/2026.

This episode is archived at: 

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1Bwa9vJfBRpw4xJEkGYXdU?si=VwKcIfMFQ7G815jtSy1SIw

The GardenDC podcast is also available on -

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• TuneIn: http://tun.in/pj7Sb
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• YouTube: https://youtube.com/washingtongardenermagazine

We welcome your questions and comments! You can leave a voice mail message for us at: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gardendc/message Note that we may use these messages on a future episode.

And be sure to leave us a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform plus share us on social media with #GardenDC, so other gardeners can find us too!

Episode Credits:
Host and Producer: Kathy Jentz

Music: Let the Sunshine by James Mulvany

PIN THIS FOR LATER!

*You can order Hydrangea Pruning at https://amzn.to/4sCh28t

This link is to our Amazon affiliate accounts and we may earn a few pennies from their sales, but this does not impact your purchase price.

Fenton Friday: Kale and Poppies Up!

This week was a weather rollercoaster with windy, sunny days and cold, wet days -- and even one day where we hit 80 degrees!

We planted a row each of Carrots 'Short 'n Sweet' and Radish 'Sparkler'. 

There were no sign of seedlings up yet for the Lettuces or Peas, but both kinds of Kale seedlings are up!

I harvested a bit of the Cilantro that over-wintered to add to a Mexican dish.

In the pollinator strip, seedlings are up for both the California Poppies (pictured above) and a Wildflower Mix. I also added a second kind of California Poppies there -- 'Buttercream'. I've never had much luck with poppies in the past, so am hoping we get a few flowers from them.

Wood chips and compost was delivered to the garden, so the interns and I spread chips on two sides of our plot.

Next week, we hope re-do the garden's bulletin board and add some more cool-season seeds for Arugula, Spinach, and Parsley.

What are you growing and harvesting in your garden this week?

About Fenton Friday: Every Friday during the growing season, I'll be giving you an update on my community garden plot at the Fenton Street Community Garden just across the street from my house in zone 7 Mid-Atlantic MD/DC border. I'm plot #16. It is a 10 ft x 20 ft space and this is our 15th year in the garden. (It opened in May 2011.) See past posts about our edible garden by putting "Fenton"  into the Search box above (at the top, left on this blog).