Can you eat those random wild strawberries that show up in people's yards?

[Anonymous]

You know, those yards that have strawberries growing in the yard in the DMV? It's considered to be a very invasive weed in peoples' yards, but can you actually eat the berries? I know heirloom berries are often way smaller than the genetic freaks they sell at a typical grocery store, but what they lack.in size is made up for big time in terms of flavor. Are the wild berries in peoples' yards that are considered weeds edible and non-toxic?

[Anonymous]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potentilla_indica

[Anonymous]

In your yard or random peoples yard?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potentilla_indica

That's clear as mud.

[Anonymous]

They're barely the size of my pinky nail- why do you feel compelled to eat them?

Leave them for the tyrtles and otherwildlife.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In your yard or random peoples yard?

+1

But yes, they are edible.

[Anonymous]

They aren’t good.

[Anonymous]

They are edible, but the flavor is bland at best.

[Anonymous]

I have mocking birds and wrens that eat them. Also seen chipmunks eat them.

[Anonymous]

Edible, but flavor isn’t good. I leave them for the bunnies in our yard because even my berry-loving kids don’t like them.

[Anonymous]

1. They taste terrible, OP.
2. You cannot trespass on private property.
3. They've been pee'd and poo'd on by dogs (and assorted wildlife), so wash them thoroughly first!
4. My husband decided to grow his own - he ordered some on gardening websites, that were meant to taste better, but no luck. They're still bland and acidic. My neighbor tells me you need to have them grow for several seasons before they start becoming sweeter, but it's been a few years, and they're still way less tasty than the ones we buy at Whole Foods.
5. Our mulberry tree gives tastier fruit, and indeed, the birds go wild for them and every spring it's a giant bird fest there, complete with massive splatter). You could also try persimmon, I hear it does well in this area.

[Anonymous]

I would consider them toxic if they’ve grown in a yard that’s been treated with pesticides.

[Anonymous]

I don’t know the answer here in the US, but just as a side note I’m from Russia and there we have these “wild strawberries” that are small, like a pinky nail, and they are by far the most delicious berries ever. Very sweet and far more fragrant than strawberries. Some people try to garden them there, but they’re truly best grown in the wild. (We would go into the woods for berry picking).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would consider them toxic if they’ve grown in a yard that’s been treated with pesticides.

Or peed on by dogs.

[Anonymous]

We pick wild raspberries when during our summers in Michigan, but have had zero luck finding similarly tasty, sweet berries growing wild here in the DMV. I don't think our temperatures are ideal for berries.