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- Indian Mock Strawberry
Indian mock strawberry (Duchesna indica [Andrews] Teschem.) is a perennial weed common throughout Louisiana. It can be easily distinguished by its red, strawberry-like fruit and the yellow flowers it produces in spring. Indian mock strawberry spreads through seed as well as through stolons (aboveground stems). It is commonly found growing in turfgrass areas where turfgrass is thin in moderately shady areas.
Indian mock strawberry has green leaves with red to purple edges. Leaves are alternately arranged along stems and are made up of three leaflets with round-toothed edges. It produces single yellow flowers with five petals on long, hairy stems. Flowers mature into spherical, spongy, red fruit that appears to have a beady surface and closely resemble strawberries. Indian mock strawberry is low-growing and can form dense mats within turfgrass. For more information on Indian mock strawberry identification and characterization, reference the USDA Plants Database.
Toothed leaflets
Flower
Red fruit
The best way to prevent or reduce weed encroachment is to maintain a healthy lawn through proper fertilization and soil pH management and regular mowing. Properly maintaining a lawn through these cultural practices promotes dense and vigorous turfgrass, allowing it to better compete with weeds. Below are the recommended mowing heights and nitrogen fertility rates recommended for each turfgrass species. In addition to these lawn care practices, manual removal of weeds may also be necessary.
| Turfgrass Species | Mowing Height | Nitrogen Rate (per 1,000 ft2 per year) |
| Bermudagrass | 1 to 2 inches | Up to 3 pounds |
| Centipedegrass | 1 to 2.5 inches | Up to 2 pounds |
| St. Augustinegrass | 2.5 to 3 inches | Up to 3 pounds |
| Zoysiagrass | 1 to 2.5 inches | Up to 2 pounds |
In addition to cultural practices, herbicide applications may be required to achieve effective weed control. Indian mock strawberry is mainly controlled by post-emergence herbicides.
When applying any type of herbicide, you must follow the manufacturer’s labeled directions. For more information regarding pesticides for turfgrass please reference the Louisiana Suggested Chemical Weed Control Guide.
| St. Augustinegrass | Centipedegrass | Zoysiagrass | Bermudagrass | |
| Post-emergence Herbicide Active Ingredients | ||||
| 2,4-D + dicamba + mecoprop | Yes | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| 2,4-D + dicamba + mecoprop + carfentrazone |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| thiencarbazone + iodosulfuron + dicamba |
Yes |
Yes | Yes |
Yes |
| metsulfuron | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| metsulfuron + dicamba | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| metsulfuron + sulfentrazone | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
For information regarding weed identification and control options please contact your local LSU AgCenter Extension Parish Office.
Download here: Louisiana Home Lawn Series: Indian Mock Strawberry 3624-CCCC