The crowns sort of divide and spread as the plants mature. You'll get off shoots. My kids and nieces love them and will strip them clean but they are much smaller and less juicy than the regular variety. If you want to freeze berries or make jam, then I'd do more regular strawberries than alpines. If you want snacking berries and berries for cereal, then the alpines are great. The alpine plants last much longer than the regular berry plants.