USDA Zone 9 (Subtropical) Perennial Berry Ground Covers?

Here in central Florida, strawberries are annuals and any of the temperate evergreen berries are out too (like lingonberry, etc.).

Are there any Zone 9 ground cover berries that won't get killed by our humid summer heat and our winter frosts?

Tim

Tim, are strawberries really annuals in your zone? What kills them? Here, they are typically grown commercially as annuals but are still very much perennials.

Nicole Castle wrote:Tim, are strawberries really annuals in your zone? What kills them? Here, they are typically grown commercially as annuals but are still very much perennials.

We have very aggressive nematodes in Florida. Strawberries have no defense. I have often wondered if I could plant them amongst some mashua to block the nematodes but I have never tried. Sometimes they can limp their way to the next season, but unless you have nematode free soil, they will be weak and pathetic and then dead.

Try Emerald Carpet Rubus pentalobus.
The berries are edible.

How is Zone 9 subtropical?

Cathe' Fish
Practical Permaculture Research Institute
www.practicalpermaculture.com

Cathe' Fish wrote:Try Emerald Carpet Rubus pentalobus.
The berries are edible.

How is Zone 9 subtropical?

Cathe' Fish
Practical Permaculture Research Institute
www.practicalpermaculture.com

Thanks. I will research Emerald Carpet.

Tim Eastham wrote:

Nicole Castle wrote:Tim, are strawberries really annuals in your zone? What kills them? Here, they are typically grown commercially as annuals but are still very much perennials.

We have very aggressive nematodes in Florida. Strawberries have no defense. I have often wondered if I could plant them amongst some mashua to block the nematodes but I have never tried. Sometimes they can limp their way to the next season, but unless you have nematode free soil, they will be weak and pathetic and then dead.

Hmmm. Strange. I wonder if introducing one of the predatory fungi like Arthrobotrys sp. could reduce the levels enough for strawberries? That's a project for the guys and gals in white coats, I suppose.

I was also going to suggest creeping raspberry like Cathe' did. You can buy it at most any nursery here.

If you've got some shade, you could try mayapple, too. It's supposed to be to zone 8 but you might have some luck pushing the zone.