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Pink Panda Strawberry

Fragaria (frah-GAYR-ee-ah)

Family: Rosaceae Unknown Groundcover

'Pink Panda' is a cultivar of the Fragaria, or strawberry, genus, a large collection of flowering, perennial cultivars and species in the rose family and noted for its edible fruits. The 'Pink Panda' cultivar is a hybrid cross between Marsh Cinquefoil ( Potentilla palustris ) and the Beach Strawberry ( Fragaris chiloensis ). 'Pink Panda', however, is an herbaceous plant that produces very little fruit and is more typically grown as a flowering, low growing, ornamental ground cover that spreads by wire-like stolons. At maturity, the plant can reach about 6 inches high, but with a spread of 2 feet. 'Pink Panda' does well in full or partial sun and medium moisture soil, but tolerates a range of soil types. Full sun allows the plant to set as many flowers as possible, although afternoon shade is recommended if the site is subject to summer heat. Also, if the soil is too rich, it will encourage the plant to produce more foliage at the expense of the flowers. As the plant matures, it sends out runners, or ground stolons, on the soil surface that result in daughter plants. The plant produces dark green foliage and attractive pink flowers with yellow centers over a long, spring and summer, bloom cycle. use the plant in a container or along walkways and borders or as a groundcover.. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. More information on Fragaria x ananassa .

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 45 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 5 - Groundcover
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Fills a similar niche Fragaria 'Red Ruby' Fragaria x ananassa Thymus vulgaris

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Edible; Ground Cover; Herbaceous Perennial
Life cycle
Perennial
USDA zones
3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
5 - Groundcover
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Creeping; Spreading
Leaf color
Green
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf margin
Dentate
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Alternate, glossy, dark green leaves that are 3/4 inches wide and 1 1/4 inches long.
Flower color
Pink
Flower value
Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Large, pink, strawberry-like flower cover the plants in Spring. If the plants are growing vigorously, the leaves may partially obscure the pink petals.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Berry
Fruit value
Edible
Fruit detail
Only occasionally produces small red edible berries.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Wildlife value
Members of the genus Fragaria support the following specialized bee: Andrena (Micrandrena) melanochroa.
Attracts
Specialized Bees
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Fruit
Harvest time
Summer
Fruit type
Berry

Edibility

Fruit is sporadic and small.

Uses (ethnobotany)

ground cover

Landscape Use
Landscape location
Hanging Baskets; Small Space; Walkways
Landscape theme
Edible Garden; Pollinator Garden
Design feature
Mass Planting
Garden tags
#specialized bees #evergreen #nectar plant #edible fruits #non-toxic for cats #non-toxic for horses #non-toxic for dogs #bee friendly #flowers spring #groundcover #pink flowers #spreading #foliage #wildlife friendly #th-taste #th-wildlife

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.