Fragaria nipponica ("Shirobananohebiichigo")

Japanese name: シロバナノヘビイチゴ （白花蛇苺）
Scientific name: Fragaria nipponica

[Overview]
A perennial found at forest edges and in grasslands in the mountains.
It usually sends out runners, which root at the nodes and form daughter plants.
The rhizome is thick and short, and ascending or erect.
3–7 compound leaves, each made up of 3 or 5 leaflets, grow in a cluster from the tip of the rhizome.
The leaflets have coarse teeth, and the terminal leaflet is oblong to broadly obovate, 2–5 cm long and 1–3 cm wide.
The petiole is 5–8 cm long and hairy.
The stem bears compound leaves of 3 leaflets or simple leaves.
A cyme bears 1–4 flowers.
The flowers are white, rarely pale pink, with 5 petals, 1.5–2 cm across, and the petals are elliptic.
There are 20 stamens, which are longer than the pistils.
The flower stalks are hairy.
The fruit is elliptic to ovate, about 1 cm long, ripens red, and is edible.
The part that looks like the fruit is the enlarged receptacle; the so-called strawberry "seeds" set on the receptacle surface are the true fruits (achenes).

[Uses]
The fruit is eaten raw or processed into jam and the like.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed or by division of daughter plants.
The seeds need light to germinate, so sow them in seed-starting soil without covering them with soil, and water from the bottom so the soil does not dry out.
It grows well in any soil as long as the site is sunny, well drained and well ventilated.
Water thoroughly when the soil surface dries.
Fertilize sparingly; for plants in the ground, no fertilizer is particularly needed if fertilizer is applied at planting.
Pests and diseases include gray mold, powdery mildew and aphids.
Also watch for damage to the fruit from slugs, pill bugs and wild birds.

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