Strawberries, with their vibrant red color, juicy texture, and sweet taste, are a globally beloved fruit enjoyed in countless forms. With global production exceeding 10 million tons annually, their widespread appeal hints at a rich underlying diversity extending far beyond common grocery store varieties.
Understanding Strawberry Diversity
The question of “how many types of strawberries there are” does not have a single, simple answer due to the distinction between botanical species and cultivated varieties, known as cultivars. A species refers to a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. In contrast, a cultivar is a plant variety that has been produced by selective breeding, retaining specific desirable characteristics. The Germplasm Resources Information Network identifies 103 distinct species and subspecies of strawberry plants. However, within the single species of the garden strawberry, Fragaria x ananassa, there are more than 600 recognized cultivars.
Key Botanical Species
The modern cultivated strawberry, Fragaria x ananassa, is a hybrid that originated in Europe in the 18th century. It resulted from a cross between two wild strawberry species: Fragaria virginiana and Fragaria chiloensis. Fragaria virginiana, native to eastern North America, produces smaller berries with a richer flavor than many commercial varieties. Fragaria chiloensis, native to the Pacific coasts of North and South America, can produce fruits ranging from white to red. The hybridization of these two octoploid species led to the development of the large-fruited garden strawberry we know today, providing the basis for its vast array of cultivars.
Common Cultivated Categories
Cultivated strawberries are often categorized based on their fruiting habits. The three primary categories are June-bearing, everbearing, and day-neutral varieties.
June-bearing strawberries produce one large crop of fruit over a two to three-week period, typically in late spring to early summer. They form flower buds in late summer to early fall when day length is shorter than 10 hours.
Everbearing strawberries produce two to three smaller crops throughout the growing season, usually with a significant flush in late spring to early summer and another in late summer or early fall. While their individual harvests are not as large as June-bearing types, they offer a more continuous supply of fruit.
Day-neutral strawberries are distinct because their flowering and fruiting are influenced by temperature, not day length. They can produce fruit continuously from late spring until the first hard frost, as long as temperatures remain between approximately 35°F and 85°F (0°C to 29°C). Day-neutral varieties typically produce fewer runners than June-bearing types, making them suitable for container gardening or smaller spaces.
What Makes Strawberries Different
Beyond their fruiting patterns, individual strawberry varieties exhibit a wide range of differentiating traits that cater to diverse preferences and uses. Flavor profiles vary significantly, encompassing notes of sweetness, tartness, and complex aromas. The balance of sugars and acids, along with volatile compounds, contributes to these distinct taste experiences.
Size and color also differ greatly among cultivars; berries can range from small, intensely flavored wild types to large, firm commercial varieties, with colors varying from pale red to deep, dark crimson. Texture, too, is a distinguishing factor, from juicy and tender to firm and crisp, influencing their suitability for fresh eating, baking, or processing.
Disease resistance is a major focus in breeding programs, with new varieties developed to withstand common threats like Fusarium wilt, Verticillium wilt, and Phytophthora crown rot. Climate adaptability is another important consideration, as breeders aim to develop strawberries that can thrive in various regional conditions, including resilience to temperature extremes and erratic rainfall patterns.