Aulon Beach Strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis ‘Aulon’) is a beautiful California native evergreen groundcover known for its exceptionally large, glossy, dark green leaves and attractive white flowers with golden-yellow centers. Blooming in spring, its flowers add delicate beauty before developing into small red strawberries when fruit sets. This vigorous, spreading plant grows by aboveground runners, gradually forming a dense carpet that works beautifully beneath shrubs, along pathways, on slopes, and in coastal gardens. It thrives in well-drained soil, tolerates coastal conditions, and requires relatively little water once established near the coast. Its flowers support pollinators, while its fruit can provide food for birds and other wildlife.

Quick care: Full sun along the coast • Part shade inland • Low to moderate water • Well-drained soil • Glossy evergreen foliage • White spring flowers. See the Plant Profile and Growing Conditions below for full details.

Plant Profile

• Plant Type: Evergreen perennial groundcover

• Mature Size: Approximately 4–6 inches tall and spreading 18 inches or more

• Native Range: Selected garden cultivar of a species native to coastal California and other Pacific coastal regions

• Flower Color: White with golden-yellow centers

• Bloom Time: Spring through early summer

• Foliage: Large, glossy, dark green leaves with three toothed leaflets; foliage and runners may develop reddish tones in cooler weather

• Growth Habit: Low-growing, spreading groundcover that forms new plants along aboveground runners, called stolons

Growing Conditions

• Sun: Full sun along the coast; partial shade to shade in hotter inland gardens

• Water: Low to moderate; requires less supplemental water in coastal climates once established

• Soil: Well-drained sandy, loamy, or rocky soil; tolerates a range of soil types when drainage is adequate

• USDA Zones: Approximately 5–10, depending on local conditions

• Drought Tolerant: Yes, once established, particularly in coastal settings; inland plants may need occasional summer watering

• Maintenance: Low; trim runners if the plant spreads beyond its intended area. Remove old or damaged foliage as needed, and avoid frequent daily watering or waterlogged soil.

Planting Instructions

• Best Planting Time: Fall through spring in California, when temperatures are mild and seasonal rainfall supports establishment

• Spacing: Plant approximately 12–18 inches apart for groundcover, allowing room for runners to fill in the surrounding area

• Planting Depth: Dig a hole as deep as the root ball and about twice as wide. Set the plant at the same depth it was growing in its nursery container, keeping the crown at soil level

• Establishment Water: Water thoroughly after planting. Water regularly during establishment, allowing the soil to drain between waterings

• Long-Term Care: Gradually reduce watering as the plant establishes. Provide occasional deep watering during prolonged dry periods, especially inland. Avoid excessive irrigation and poorly drained soil. Trim runners to manage spread, and refresh older, dense patches as needed.

Wildlife & Pollinators

• Attracts: Native bees, butterflies, and other flower-visiting insects

• Pollinator Value: Its white spring flowers provide pollen and nectar for visiting pollinators

• Wildlife Benefits: Red fruits may provide food for birds and other wildlife; its spreading foliage also offers low-growing habitat cover

• Deer Resistant: Not reliably deer resistant; browsing may occur

• Garden Benefits: Excellent for coastal gardens, slopes, erosion control, pathway edges, containers, and low-growing native groundcover

• Notable: ‘Aulon’ was selected by Brett Hall of the UC Santa Cruz Arboretum and is valued for its unusually large leaves and flowers, glossy foliage, and vigorous spreading habit. This selection is particularly useful for creating a lush, low-growing carpet beneath shrubs or across open garden spaces. Although beach strawberry is known for its edible red fruit, ‘Aulon’ is described as a predominantly male selection, so fruit production may be limited or absent unless compatible flowering plants are nearby.