Fragaria ‘Red Ruby’ (Ornamental Strawberry)

Fragaria ‘Red Ruby’

Fragaria ×‘Red Ruby’

Ornamental Strawberry

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Rosidae	Roses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more
Order	Rosales	Rose family and eight others
Family	Rosaceae	Includes apples, apricots, plums, cherries, peaches, pears, raspberries, strawberries, almonds, roses, meadowsweets, photinias, firethorns, rowans, and hawthorns; many others
Genus	Fragaria	From the Latin fraga, “strawberry,” which derives from fragum, “fragrant,” from the fragrance of the fruit
Cultivar	‘Red Ruby’

About plant names...

Most strawberries are cultivated for their familiar fruits, but some, like this one, are cultivated as ornamental plants. These are not found in the wild.

Identification: Wild strawberry flowers are white, and those of several strawberry-like plants are yellow. Most cultivated strawberries also have white flowers, while a few are light pink. These strawberries are bred for their deep pink flowers. Plants are about 5" (12 cm) high and 12-24" (30-60 cm) around. Flowers are ¼-¾" (8.3-19 mm) in diameter, with five petals.

Here are several varieties of strawberries:

8/1/2009 · Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Boothbay, ME
≈ 3 × 2" (7.9 × 5.5 cm)

	*Waldsteinia fragarioides*	You are here Fragaria ‘Red Ruby’	*Fragaria vesca*
Common Name	Barren Strawberry	Ornamental Strawberry	Alpine Strawberry
Plant	3-8" (7.6-20 cm) high	About 5" (12 cm) high and 12-24" (30-60 cm) around.	Plants are low-growing, typically 3-6" (7.6-15 cm) tall.
Flowers	Yellow, on a leafless stalk, with five petals, ¼-¾" (8.4-19 mm) around, blooms April-May.	Deep pink, about ¼-¾" (8.3-19 mm) in diameter, with five petals.	Flowers are white, about ½" (1.5 cm) across.
Leaves	Near the base of the plant, three-lobed, with rounded teeth and shallow lobes. Each leaflet is narrow at the base, widening to rounded ends.	Dark green, in groups of three, glossy.	Leaves occur in groups of three; each leaflet is ½-2½" (1.5-6.3 cm) long.
Fruit	Dry, inconspicuous seeds.	Occasionally produces fruit.	Up to ⅜" (1 cm) across. Red or white in color.
Range/ Zones		USDA Zones: 5-8
Habitats	Pine forests, clearings	Sun to light shade; well-drained soil
Type	Wild	Cultivar	Wild

	*Fragaria virginiana*	*Fragaria ×ananassa ssp. ananassa*
Common Name	Common Strawberry	Strawberry
Plant	2-4" (5-10 cm) high.	4-8" (10-20 cm) high.
Flowers	White flowers with yellow centers, about ½" (1.3 cm) around. Flowers remain at the level of the leaves.	Most have white flowers, though some are pink; flowers have five rounded petals.
Leaves	Leaf stalks up to 6" (15 cm) long bear groups of three leaves. Each leaf is oval in shape, with a serrated edge, about ¾-1½" (1.9-3.8 cm) long.	Leaves occur in groups of three. They are fairly rounded in shape, edged with rounded teeth.
Fruit	Berries are red, about ½" (1.3 cm) in diameter. Seeds are embedded in the berry. Sepals point outward.	Fruits become white, then red, up to 1½" (3.8 cm) in size.
Range/ Zones		USDA Zones: 5-9
Habitats	Fields, prairies, woodland edges
Type	Wild	Wild

Online References:

Fragaria ‘Red Ruby’ on thegardengeeks.com

Fragaria ‘Red Ruby’ on Flickr

Fragaria ‘Red Ruby’ on plants.ces.ncsu.edu

Fragaria ‘Red Ruby’ description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 12 Oct 2018.

Range: Zones 5-8:

About this map...