Reine Des Vallees is a European alpine strawberry cultivar that has become the commercial standard for fraises des bois across the continent. Unlike typical strawberries, this day-neutral variety produces fruit continuously from June through September in hardiness zones 3 to 9, delivering long, narrow berries packed with intense aromatic flavor and surprising sweetness. The compact, clumping plants grow just 12 inches tall with few or no runners, making them wonderfully manageable in gardens, containers, or raised beds. Cold-hardy enough for northern gardeners yet flexible enough to thrive across most of the US, this is a strawberry that truly rewards patient growers with an extended harvest of genuine treats.
Full Sun
Moderate
3-9
12in H x ?in W
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High
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These berries deliver the sophisticated flavor that made alpine strawberries legendary in European markets, with a complexity and aroma that standard strawberries simply cannot match. The plants are remarkably vigorous yet compact, clumping densely with minimal runner production, which means less weeding and easier management than typical spreading strawberry varieties. Because they're day-neutral, they ignore photoperiod and keep fruiting steadily through summer and well into fall, so you're harvesting sweet, fragrant berries when most strawberry seasons have ended.
These berries are eaten fresh as a delicacy, often straight from the plant where their perfumed sweetness shines brightest. Their small size and concentrated flavor make them exceptional for garnishing desserts, mixing into cream or custard, or serving as a sophisticated palate cleanser. Some gardeners preserve them as preserves or cordials, capturing their unique aromatic character in shelf-stable form.
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Transplant crowns after the danger of hard frost has passed in spring, setting them so the crown sits just at soil level, not buried. Space plants 12 inches apart in well-draining soil amended with organic matter.
Pick berries when fully red throughout, typically in the morning after dew has dried. Unlike larger strawberries, these are smaller and more delicate; handle gently to avoid bruising. Because the plants fruit continuously from June through September, you'll harvest in waves rather than a single flush, checking plants every few days during peak season. The berries will feel slightly soft when ripe but should come away easily from the plant.
Remove runners as they appear to maintain the plant's clumping form and direct energy toward fruit production. Deadhead spent flower clusters to encourage continuous blooming throughout the season. After fruiting ends in fall, remove any dead or damaged foliage, but leave the plant largely intact since Reine Des Vallees is perennial and will regrow from the crown in spring.
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“Reine Des Vallees emerged from European commercial strawberry production, where it became the primary cultivar grown and exported by professional alpine strawberry growers. Alpine strawberries themselves (Fragaria vesca) are ancient plants, distinct from the large hybrid strawberries most gardeners know, and this particular cultivar represents generations of selection by European growers who valued vigor, flavor, and consistent productivity. Its journey from European farms to US home gardens reflects the growing interest in heirloom and specialty fruits, and today it remains the cultivar of choice for anyone seeking authentic fraises des bois quality.”