I'm a big fan of wild strawberries. I think it has to do with the summer I spent with my grandmother in Biarritz, France at the age of nine; the woods near her house had small, sweet strawberries growing in large patches. My cousin and I would pick handfuls and eat them, then go wield bamboo swords with our sticky fingers.

Although I've rarely seen fruit on this particular strawberry cultivar, the leaves give it a charm that rekindles those fond memories for me. Weaving through shady borders on long, burgundy runners, the three-parted leaves barely rise up above the ground. Bright splashes are created everywhere the green and white variegated foliage pops out, adding charm and contrast to the garden.

It doesn't flower as often as the straight species, but the blooms are just as large and showy. Five-petaled and pure white, they sit in clusters atop the foliage from May through August.

These variegated woodland strawberries are happiest in humusy, fertile, medium-wet well-drained soil in part shade, but they're really quite tolerant. I've grown them in clay soils with no problems the key is just making sure that they don't dry out too much.

I find they look great around the bases of toad lilies like 'Sinonome' or 'Tojen', or with Hosta 'So Sweet'.

Pot size: 4.5"sq x 5.0" (1004 ml, or ~one quart).