Alpine strawberries are also known as fraises des bois. The most widely grown cultivar in Europe is Fragaria vesca ‘Reine des Vallees’. The French name Reine des Vallees means “Queen of the Valleys. The name translated to Italian is Regina delle Valli.
Home gardeners and commercial fruit growers select Reine over other cultivars. Whatever the name, this cultivar is THE standard in Europe. The major fruit exporting growers in Europe grow this variety exclusively.
Reine des Vallees is a clumping type of strawberry that produces few to no runners, Clumping types of strawberries tend to be very productive because they are putting their energy into fruit production instead of runners.
Reine is day neutral which means that flowering is not dependent on day length. In mild climates or in protected culture like greenhouses Reine will flower cyclically nearly all year. This cultivar is very productive and produces scarlet red fruit with the distinctive wild strawberry flavor and aroma. The exquisite flavor is what is expected from fraises des bois.
Reine des Vallees plants are hardy to at least zone 5 and can be grown in warmer zones. Customers can purchase high quality seed of this cultivar at the store on this site.