Red Ruby Strawberry Fragaria 'Red Ruby'
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- frah-GAYR-ee-ah
- Description
-
'Red Ruby' is a cultivar of the Fragaria, or 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. and makes an excellent plant for a basket, or container.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
No known diseases or insect pests.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Fragaria
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- ground cover
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Wildlife Value:
- Members of the genus Fragaria support the following specialized bee: Andrena (Micrandrena) melanochroa.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Edibility:
- Fruit is sporadic and small.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 3 in. - 0 ft. 5 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Ground Cover
- Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Creeping
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- 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 To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Description:
- Only occasionally produces red edible fruit
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Pink flowers are 1/4 to 3/4 inches. If the plants are growing vigorously, the leaves may partially obscure the pink petals.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Alternate, glossy, dark green leaves in groups of three.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Hanging Baskets
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer