How To Forage Wild Strawberries

Wild strawberries may be tiny, but their flavour is intense – floral, tangy and concentrated. They’re a true seasonal treasure, often hiding in plain sight. These aren’t the strawberries you buy at the supermarket. They’re smaller, more aromatic and arguably more magical. Perfect for toppings, desserts and small-batch preserves.

How to Identify

Fruit: Small (pea-sized), heart-shaped berries with surface seeds. Ripen from green to bright red.
Leaves: Three-leaflet formation with serrated edges, bright green and slightly fuzzy.
Flowers: Five white petals and a bright yellow centre.
Growth habit: Low-growing, spreading via runners. Look for them in loose patches or ground cover.

Common lookalikes: Barren strawberry (similar flowers/leaves, but no fruit) – distinguish by checking for berries in summer.

Where to Find Them

Woodland edges, grassy verges, forest paths, old orchards, shaded lawns.
Prefer dappled sun and well-drained soil.

Wild strawberries can be surprisingly urban, check overgrown garden edges and old stone walls.

When to Forage

Season: Late May to July (sometimes into August with cool, damp summers)
Berries ripen quickly and don’t keep long, so pick and use the same day if possible.

Sustainable Foraging Tips

Take sparingly – wild strawberries are slower to replenish and often patchy.
Never pick the whole patch. Let some berries fall and seed naturally.
Avoid heavily trafficked areas or lawns sprayed with herbicides.

How to Use & Store

Eat fresh, stirred into yoghurt or served over porridge.
Freeze on a tray for small-batch use (note: texture will soften).
Make into small-batch jam or wild compote.
Do not wash unless needed – they’re delicate and spoil fast.

What To Cook With Wild Strawberries

You can use wild strawberries anywhere that you would use standard strawberries, giving your dishes a little beauty and magic. Try these recipes:

Wild Strawberry and Polenta Cake

An easy to make (and delicious to eat) wild strawberry cake made with polenta.

Check out this recipe

Wild Strawberry Jam

Wild strawberry jam made from fresh-picked berries. A simple homemade preserve that captures the sweet, intense flavor of wild strawberries.

Check out this recipe

A Classic Strawberry Shortcake Recipe

Discover a classic strawberry shortcake recipe featuring homemade biscuits, sweet macerated strawberries, and fresh whipped cream—a cherished family favorite perfect for summer gatherings.

Check out this recipe