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Ornamental Strawberry

Fragaria (frah-GAYR-ee-ah)

Family: Rosaceae Unknown Groundcover (<1 ft)

'Red Ruby' is a cultivar of the strawberry genus, a large collection of flowering, perennial cultivars and species in the rose family and noted for its edible fruits. 'Red Ruby', however, produces very little fruit and is more typically grown as a flowering, low-growing, ornamental ground cover that spreads by wire-like stolons. It is not found in the wild. 'Red Ruby' is bred for its deep pink to red flowers and long bloom cycle (Spring and Summer until frost). Plants are compact and about 5 inches high and 12 to 24 inches wide with semi-everegreen, glossy green foliage. The flowers themselves are 1/4 to 3/4 of an inch in diameter, with five petals. 'Red Ruby' does best in medium moisture, well-drained, organically rich soil in full sun or partial shade. Full sun allows the plant to set as many flowers as possible, although afternoon shade is recommended if the site is subject to summer heat. Also, if the soil is too rich, it will encourage the plant to produce more foliage at the expense of the flowers. As the plant matures, it sends out runners, or ground stolons, on the soil surface that result in daughter plants.The plant is deer resistant and winter hardy to 10 °F.. Use this plant in a container, along walkways or borders and as a ground cover. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. More information on Fragaria x ananassa .

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 51 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 5 - Groundcover (<1 ft)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Often confused with Potentilla indica
Fills a similar niche Fragaria 'Pink Panda' Fragaria x ananassa Salvia rosmarinus

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Edible; Ground Cover; Perennial
Life cycle
Perennial
USDA zones
5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 3 in. - 0 ft. 5 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
5 - Groundcover (<1 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Creeping; Spreading
Foliage
Semi-evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf margin
Dentate
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf value
Long-lasting; Showy
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Alternate, glossy, dark green leaves in groups of three.
Flower color
Pink; Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Pink flowers are 1/4 to 3/4 inches. If the plants are growing vigorously, the leaves may partially obscure the pink petals.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Berry
Fruit value
Edible
Fruit detail
Only occasionally produces red edible fruit
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Wildlife value
Members of the genus Fragaria support the following specialized bee: Andrena (Micrandrena) melanochroa.
Attracts
Pollinators; Specialized Bees
Play value
Attracts Pollinators
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Fruit
Harvest time
Spring; Summer
Fruit type
Berry

Edibility

Fruit is sporadic and small.

Uses (ethnobotany)

ground cover

Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Hanging Baskets; Walkways
Landscape theme
Pollinator Garden
Design feature
Border; Mass Planting
Garden tags
#specialized bees #evergreen #nectar plant #edible fruits #pollinator plant #non-toxic for cats #non-toxic for horses #non-toxic for dogs #deer resistant #bird friendly #red flowers #spreading #foliage #groundcover #wildlife friendly #th-taste #th-wildlife
Problems & Resistance
Resistant to
Deer

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.