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Potentilla indica

False Strawberry · Indian Strawberry · Mock Strawberry

Family RosaceaeGenus Potentilla

A sixteen-panel grid: yellow five-petalled flowers in the top rows, some with insects on them, and bright red knobbly strawberry-like fruits below.
FruitAlpsdakeCC BY-SA 4.0

About the plant

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

The plant

Habit
Ground Cover, WildflowerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
perennialPlants of the World Online
Height
3-8 in10-20 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
1-2 ft30-60 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Gold/YellowExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
Spring, SummerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Afghanistan, Assam, China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, East Himalaya and elsewhereGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Hardiness zones
5-9Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

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

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • Its fruit looks like a strawberry's but its flowers are yellow, not white. The berries are edible, though considered less palatable than true strawberries. Wikipedia: Potentilla indica

This source reports two treatments. Both are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 8, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 28 days to germinate.

100% germination in 7–28 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Duchesnea p. 40Public domain
Show the original text
Duchesnea (Rosaceae). D. indica germ. 70L(100% in 1-4 w), 70 GA-3(5%), and 70D(none). A prior 3 m at 40 had little effect.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Duchesnea p. 40. 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, 1996

Difficulty Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 15, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Gibberellic acid soak

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

No stated waiting before sowing. Germination time not stated; 21 days assumed.

5% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Duchesnea p. 40Public domain
Show the original text
Duchesnea (Rosaceae). D. indica germ. 70L(100% in 1-4 w), 70 GA-3(5%), and 70D(none). A prior 3 m at 40 had little effect.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Duchesnea p. 40. 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.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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