Ann wrote about some little strawberries growing in her yard. She tried one but it didn’t taste good. I was curious because I knew they couldn’t be wild strawberries. Those grew up on our land before the 2011 fire, and Kaitlin and I looked forward to eating them every year. It turns out Ann’s are called mock strawberries, or Indian strawberries, false strawberries, or wood strawberries. They aren’t poisonous but they don’t have the sweet flavor of wild strawberries.
…there is a misconception about wild strawberries. People will tell you that they are not only inedible, but that they are poisonous to consume.
That last little bit? It couldn’t be further from the truth and likely has caused quite a few people to miss out on tasting a wild strawberry or two.
As a matter of fact, wild strawberries are not only completely edible, they are actually highly nutritious, too. But it is easy to be deceived by a look-alike, a fake: the mock strawberry.
—Can You Eat Wild Strawberries? (And How to Identify Them)
You can tell the difference because wild strawberries have white blossoms, mock strawberries have yellow blossoms. Also mock strawberries point skyward while wild strawberries dangle down on the vine.
And if there’s still any doubt, crush one. Wild strawberries have a sweet smell, mock strawberries have no smell at all.
Thanks, Ann! And again, bless the internet for its wealth of information.
October 7, 2024
I think I have seen the fake ones every where I have ever lived. When I was a kid, there was a spot where I could find the wild strawberries and they were delicious.
I’ve never seen the fake ones.
lots of good info here, I have not seen them in Georgia, Kentucky or Florida, they might be there but I assume I would have to go out side to see them. ha ha… the only wild thing I have ever eaten were blackberries in Kentucky, boy were they good. thanks for the research. I am spending today giving one more visit to my friends because after Milton who knows when or if I can comment. we take Beau to annual vet visit at 9 am..
Good luck with Milton! My heart goes out to you all.
Thank you for passing the information along. I had no idea there was a difference. I don’t recall seeing any blossoms while I was out there but now I’ll have to look and see if I can find any.
🙂
Didn’t know about mock strawberries. I do remember wild strawberries from my youth and eating them.
🙂
When I was growing up we always picked and ate wild strawberries.
You were lucky too. 🙂
I have wild strawberries. The birds love them. I’ve never tried one. Now I will. Next year.
Good!
…when I was a kid, strawberries were available for severals week in June, now they are sold 52 years a year!
I know. And often they aren’t very good.
Very interesting. Thanks for sharing this information.
🙂
I have these in our yard, and was astonished at Ann’s info! So I was really interested in your explanation, you are always so good at research.
Thanks. Search engines make it so easy.
Certainly more entertaining than the Encyclopedia Britannica!
Yes!
We had relatives on a farm in Wisconsin where we picked wild strawberries and they were the best of the best! We ate them in a bowl with fresh cream from their dairy cows. 🙂
You had a big patch of them! We didn’t have nearly that many.
I have to remember this…I may have mock strawberries but not blossoming right now.
🙂