Fragaria 'Pink Panda'
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- frah-GAYR-ee-ah
- Description
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'Pink Panda' is a cultivar of the Fragaria, or strawberry, genus, a large collection of flowering, perennial cultivars and species in the rose family and noted for its edible fruits. The 'Pink Panda' cultivar is a hybrid cross between Marsh Cinquefoil (Potentilla palustris) and the Beach Strawberry (Fragaris chiloensis). 'Pink Panda', however, is an herbaceous plant that produces very little fruit and is more typically grown as a flowering, low growing, ornamental ground cover that spreads by wire-like stolons. At maturity, the plant can reach about 6 inches high, but with a spread of 2 feet. The plant produces dark green foliage and attractive pink flowers with yellow centers over a long, spring and summer, bloom cycle.
'Pink Panda' does well in full or partial sun and medium moisture soil, but tolerates a range of soil types. Full sun allows the plant to set as many flowers as possible, although afternoon shade is recommended if the site is subject to summer heat. Also, if the soil is too rich, it will encourage the plant to produce more foliage at the expense of the flowers. As the plant matures, it sends out runners, or ground stolons, on the soil surface that result in daughter plants.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
No known diseases or insect pests.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Fragaria
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- ground cover
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Wildlife Value:
- Members of the genus Fragaria support the following specialized bee: Andrena (Micrandrena) melanochroa.
- Edibility:
- Fruit is sporadic and small.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Ground Cover
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Creeping
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Description:
- Only occasionally produces small red edible berries.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Large, pink, strawberry-like flower cover the plants in Spring. If the plants are growing vigorously, the leaves may partially obscure the pink petals.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Alternate, glossy, dark green leaves that are 3/4 inches wide and 1 1/4 inches long.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Hanging Baskets
- Lawn
- Landscape Theme:
- Edible Garden
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Specialized Bees