Northern Gooseberry vs Wild Strawberry - TreeTime.ca

Northern Gooseberry vs Wild Strawberry

Fragaria virginiana

Ribes oxyacanthoides

Wild Strawberry
Northern Gooseberry

Often called the Woodland Strawberry, the Wild Strawberry produces a sweet, edible red berry all throughout the later spring and summer. This compact, stemless plant spreads mostly through the means of runners, and grows quickly.

Flowers and fruit of the Wild Strawberry are usually present simultaneously throughout the summer. This variety is native to North America, which gives it its name.

Northern Gooseberry is a small, ornamental quality native shrub with prickly stems. You can plant it anywhere you'd plant Prickly Rose or Common Wild Rose, such as your yard.

Most people find Northern Gooseberry berries a bit tart for significant fresh eating but they are good for baking, wine or jam.

Wild Strawberry Quick Facts

Northern Gooseberry Quick Facts

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Zone: 3a
Zone: 1a
Height: 0.1 m (0.3 ft)
Height: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Spread: 0.3 m (1.0 ft)
Spread: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: any
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: normal, wet
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: fast
Life span: short
Life span: short
Suckering: high
Suckering: none
Maintenance: medium


Fall colour: red to purple
Flowers: white
Fruit: small
Berries: sweet
Berries: purple or purplish black
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, YT, NT, NU, PE
Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, QC, NL, YT, NT
Other Names: common strawberry, mountain strawberry, virginia strawberry
Other Names: canada gooseberry, canadian gooseberry