1 / 5

Key characteristics

Family: Rosaceae
Height: 4 to 6 in
Width: 12 to 24 in
Flower color: Clear, bright yellow with five rounded petals surrounding a small golden center
Foliage color: Glossy, trifoliate leaves in deep green, often remaining evergreen in mild climates and taking on bronze tones in winter
Bloom time: Mid to late spring
Light: Partial shade to full shade
Water: Moderate
Maintenance: Low; spreads gradually by runners and benefits from occasional thinning
Growing zone: USDA zones 4 to 8
Wildlife: Bees and other early-season pollinators

Groundcovers

Waldsteinia ternata

Barren Strawberry

Waldsteinia ternata forms a dense carpet of glossy, three-lobed green leaves that remain tidy through the growing season. In mid to late spring, bright yellow, five-petaled flowers rise just above the foliage, creating a luminous ground-level display. Native to central and eastern Europe, it spreads steadily by short rhizomes, knitting the surface into an even, leafy cover.

Gardeners value its ability to weave gentle color through shaded borders, woodland paths, and beneath shrubs, where the persistent foliage maintains continuity beyond the flowering period. Long-lived colonies provide structure and seasonal brightness, supporting layered plantings and soft transitions between larger perennials and ground-hugging companions.

Light

Partial shade to full shade

Water

Moderate

Bloom time

Mid to late spring

Find this plant

Works well in

Woodland Gardens
Under Trees
Pathways & Walkways
Pollinator Gardens

Companion plants

Acorus · Skimmias · Astilbes · Blechnums · Carexes · Heucheras

Design tip

Use broad drifts to create a seamless transition between shrubs, trees, and taller woodland perennials. The glossy foliage provides a consistent foundation, while bright spring flowers illuminate shaded spaces and guide the eye naturally through the landscape.