Fragaria ‘Red Ruby’ (Ornamental strawberry)

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, Maine
≈ 2½ × 2" (6.4 × 5 cm)

	*Waldsteinia fragarioides*	*Duchesnea indica*	You are here Fragaria ‘Red Ruby’
Common Name	barren strawberry	mock strawberry	ornamental strawberry
Plant	3-8" (7.6-20 cm) high	Plants are 2-5" (5-12 cm) high.	About 5" (12 cm) high and 12-24" (30-60 cm) around.
Flowers	Yellow, on a leafless stalk, with five petals, ¼-¾" (8.4-19 mm) around, blooms April-May.	Flowers are yellow, with five petals, about ½-¾" (1.3-1.9 cm) in diameter. They flower from April to August.	Deep pink, about ¼-¾" (8.3-19 mm) in diameter, with five petals.
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.	Leaves are in groups of three, dark green, heavily veined beneath, with rounded teeth. They are oval to elliptic, ¾-3" (1.9-7.6 cm) × ¼-1½" (8.5-38 mm), and hairy.	Dark green, in groups of three, glossy.
Fruit	Dry, inconspicuous seeds.	Red berries are ¼-½" (6.3-12 mm) in diameter, more spherical than strawberry-like in shape. The seedlike achenes on the berry are prominently raised, making the fruit resemble a tiny land mine.	Occasionally produces fruit.
Range/ Zones			USDA Zones: 5-8
Habitats	Pine forests, clearings		Sun to light shade; well-drained soil
Type	Wild	Wild	Cultivar

	*Fragaria vesca*	*Fragaria virginiana*	*Fragaria ×ananassa ssp. ananassa*
Common Name	alpine strawberry	common strawberry	strawberry
Plant	Plants are low-growing, typically 3-6" (7.6-15 cm) tall.	2-4" (5-10 cm) high.	4-8" (10-20 cm) high.
Flowers	Flowers are white, about ½" (1.5 cm) across.	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	Leaves occur in groups of three; each leaflet is ½-2½" (1.5-6.3 cm) long.	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	Up to ⅜" (1 cm) across. Red or white in color.	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	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’

Fragaria ‘Red Ruby’ description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 16 Sep 2020.

Range: Zones 5-8:

About this map...