Being a classic plant of dry soils and rocky places the wild strawberry is a great green roof plant. It is commonly used on the continent on green roofs and there are many examples of it being used as a dominant green roof plant in the UK.
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The plant has long arching runners and can spread across a roof quite easily without competing with other native herbs. It’s delightful white flowerhead are attractive to a range of pollinators, especially bees and the bright glossy green leaves are important food for the catarpillars of the grizzled skipper butterfly. This once common butterfly is now a priority species in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. Although normally associated with chalk grassland it can also be found on post industrial and brown field sites in southern England.
The Wild Strawberry generally thrives in wildflower substrates with a minimum depth of 100mm.
The plant also produces small fruits, which have a delightful cherry like flavour.