Also known as Strawberry · 667 gardener saves
Fragaria: the varieties gardeners actually grow
Fragaria, the genus most gardeners know as strawberry. We track 11 varieties; these are the ones gardeners actually save and plant, ranked by real saves rather than catalog marketing. Each links to full care, bloom, and live price data.
The 11 most-saved Fragaria varieties
Of 11 in the catalog — ordered by how many gardeners actually grow them.
#1 most savedWild Strawberry
Fragaria virginiana
#2 most savedElan Strawberry
Fragaria x ananassa 'Elan'
#3 most savedDelizz Strawberry
Fragaria x ananassa 'Delizz'
Improved Rugen Strawberry
Fragaria vesca 'Improved Rugen'
Mara des Bois Strawberry
Fragaria ananassa 'Mara des Bois'
Gasana Everbearing Strawberry
Fragaria x ananassa 'Gasana Everbearing'
Pineberry
Fragaria x ananassa 'Pineberry Pair'
Charlotte Strawberry
Fragaria x ananassa 'Charlotte'
Beach Strawberry Chilean Strawberry
Fragaria chiloensis 'Carole Ann'
Lipstick Hybrid Strawberry
Fragaria 'Lipstick'
Strawberry Tristan
Fragaria x ananassa 'Tristan'
How to grow Fragaria
What the Fragaria varieties in our catalog actually agree on — drawn from the care records of the 11 most-grown of them, not from a generic template.
The Fragaria year
- FertilizeApril–July91% of varieties
Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer monthly during the growing season.
- MulchApril82% of varieties
Apply straw or pine needle mulch to keep fruit clean.
- HarvestMay–September82% of varieties
Pick small, sweet berries when fully red; harvest leaves for tea
- PlantMarch and April73% of varieties
Plant in spring after the last frost in well-amended soil.
- Spring CleanupFebruary64% of varieties
Remove any dead or damaged foliage from the previous year.
- Winter PrepOctober and November45% of varieties
Apply a thick layer of straw mulch after the ground freezes
Do
- Mulch to conserve moisture and prevent weeds
- Monitor regularly for pests and diseases
- Plant in full sun for the most abundant flowers.
- Use as a spiller in containers or hanging baskets.
- Allow it to spread via runners to form a groundcover.
Avoid
- Avoid overwatering to prevent root rot ❌
- Avoid overwatering, which can cause root rot ❌
- Avoid overwatering which can cause root rot ❌
- Don't expect large, sweet fruit like a culinary strawberry.
What goes wrong with Fragaria
| Problem | What you'll see | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Aphids | Sticky residue and distorted leaves | Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil |
| Slugs | Irregular holes in leaves and fruit | Use organic slug bait or copper barriers |
| Spider Mites | Fine webbing, stippled yellow leaves, especially in hot, dry conditions. | Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil. Increase humidity. |
| Slugs and Snails | Irregular holes chewed in leaves and fruit. | Use diatomaceous earth, iron phosphate baits, or beer traps. Hand-pick at night. |
| Gray Mold (Botrytis) | Gray fuzzy mold on fruit and leaves | Improve air circulation and apply organic fungicide |
| Leaf Spot | Small purple spots on leaves that develop gray or white centers. | Remove infected leaves. Improve air circulation. Apply a copper-based fungicide if severe. |
| Gray mold | Fuzzy gray growth on fruit and leaves | Improve air circulation and remove affected plant parts |
Making more Fragaria
Division
- Divide mature plants in early spring or late fall.
- Carefully separate crowns with roots and replant immediately.
Runner propagation
- Encourage runners to root in moist soil during late spring.
- Pin down runners with small stakes or stones.
- Wait 6 weeks for roots to establish before transplanting.
Fragaria questions
How many types of Fragaria are there?
The Sow catalog tracks 11 distinct Fragaria varieties. The most popular — ranked by 667 real gardener saves — are shown first above.
What zones does Fragaria grow in?
Across its varieties, Fragaria covers USDA Zones 4–9. Individual varieties differ — each plant page lists its exact range, and Sow filters the catalog to your zone automatically.
When does Fragaria bloom?
Most Fragaria varieties bloom in late spring, late spring to fall, early summer. Staggering early, mid, and late varieties extends the genus's season in one bed.
Which Fragaria should I choose?
Start from the most-saved varieties above — popularity across thousands of gardens is a strong signal of reliability — then filter by your zone and sun. In the Sow app you can preview any of them in a photo of your actual yard before you buy.
Keep exploring
Fragaria shows up in
Design with Fragaria in your own yard
Snap a photo of your space and see these varieties planted in it — sized correctly, matched to your zone, with care reminders included.
