Different Colored Strawberries: 11 Must-Try Varieties for 2025
Discover fascinating strawberry varieties in white, pink, yellow, purple, and more for a truly unique home garden.
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11 Uniquely Colored Strawberries for Your Garden
When most people think of strawberries, the image of a juicy, sweet red berry comes to mind. But strawberry lovers and garden enthusiasts can explore a rainbow of strawberry varieties beyond the traditional red. White, pink, yellow, golden, and even purple strawberries bring novelty to your home garden. Most of these unusual colored strawberries arenât available in supermarkets, making them a special centerpiece for home growers and berry aficionados. In this guide, discover 11 of the most fascinating different colored strawberries you can plant this season.
Can Strawberries Be Different Colors?
Yes! Strawberries naturally come in a variety of colors beyond the standard red. Over the past few decades, breeders and garden hobbyists have developed white, pink, yellow, and golden strawberries. Sometimes these colors originate from crossing wild or alpine strawberry “off-types” and saving seeds from plants with subtly different fruit hues . Just as with purple cabbage or yellow carrots, colored strawberries offer gardeners both a visual and culinary treat.
Be cautious, though: photos circulating online of bright blue, neon pink, emerald green, black, or rainbow strawberries are digitally manipulated; such colors do not exist naturally. Any retailer claiming to sell these seeds is not offering genuine products.
Main Types of Colored Strawberries
The differently colored strawberries you can grow at home fall into a few main categories:
- White strawberries: Creamy or pale berries, often with subtle pink blush or red seeds.
- Pink strawberries: Rose-hued fruit, sometimes with red or white undertones.
- Yellow and golden strawberries: Rare, with lightly golden or pale yellow fruit.
- Purple strawberries: Deep reddish-purple or dark-hued berries, often high in antioxidants.
Letâs look at 11 of the most unique strawberry varieties you can try in your garden.
11 Differently Colored Strawberries To Plant
White Alpine Strawberries
Also known as Fragaria vesca âWhite Soul, White Wonder, or Pineapple Crushâ, these petite alpine strawberries yield sweet, fragrant white berries with a delicate, almost pineapple-like aroma. They are perfect for edible borders and container gardens. Plus, unlike standard strawberries, alpine types tend to be runnerless, so they stay tidier in small spaces.
Pineberry
Pineberry, or Fragaria à ananassa, is a cross between the wild South American strawberry and the classic garden type. These berries are white with red seeds and have a mild pineapple flavor. Pineberries are self-sterile, so plant them near a standard red strawberry to ensure good pollination and fruiting.
Pink Panda Strawberry
With blushing pink fruit and charming pink flowers, Pink Panda is as ornamental as it is edible. This variety is a cross between wild strawberry and ornamental cinquefoil, yielding very sweet, small pink berries. Itâs a favorite groundcover for edible landscapes.
Purple Wonder Strawberry
This striking variety offers deep reddish-purple fruit with a rich, berry flavor. ‘Purple Wonder’ is one of the few strawberries developed specifically for its unique color and antioxidant content. It performs well in containers and raised beds.
Red Wonder and Yellow Wonder Alpine Strawberries
‘Red Wonder’ yields classic red fruit, while ‘Yellow Wonder’ offers rare creamy-yellow berries. Both are alpine types, producing small, intensely fragrant fruits from late spring into summer. They’re perfect for borders and containers, and can be planted together for a colorful display .
White Carolina Strawberry
The âWhite Carolinaâ is similar to pineberry, with white to creamy fruit and red seeds. It is known for its pineapple aroma and flavor, prized among fruit connoisseurs.
Golden Alexandria Strawberry
This classic alpine strawberry produces deep golden, almost apricot-hued berries. The flavor is sweet and slightly floral, and the plant is prized for both ornamental and culinary use.
Rosy Belle Strawberry
A newer introduction, ‘Rosy Belle’ produces lovely pink fruit with a mild, sweet flavor and vibrant pink flowers. It is valued for edible landscaping and as an eye-catching novelty in kitchen gardens.
White Delight Strawberry
âWhite Delightâ is another white-hued variety, sometimes carrying a soft blush of pink as it ripens. The fruit is small, fragrant, and reminiscent of wild strawberries in flavor.
Fragaria âGolden Treasureâ
An unusual strawberry with rich golden berries, ‘Golden Treasure’ is prized for its ornamental value as well as its sweet flavor. It is less commonly available but worth seeking out for collectors and enthusiasts.
Ruby Ann Strawberry
This everbearing variety has deep red fruit and striking red blooms, producing berries throughout the season. While the fruit is not a fantastical color, the combination of red flowers and berries creates a dramatic look in planters and garden beds.
Why Grow Novelty-Colored Strawberries?
- Visual Interest: Colored strawberries bring surprise and beauty to garden beds, containers, and edible landscapes.
- Unique Flavors: Many white or golden varieties have pineapple or floral notes, offering a flavor experience different from classic red strawberries.
- Conversation Starters: Serve a bowl of white or purple berries and watch your guests marvel!
- Homegrown Exclusivity: Most varieties are unavailable in grocery stores, making them a rare treat for home gardeners.
- Pollinator Attraction: Pink, red, or bicolor strawberry flowers attract bees and beneficial insects to your garden.
Growing and Caring for Novelty Strawberries
While care requirements can vary slightly, most novelty and colored strawberries thrive under similar conditions to standard varieties. Here are essential tips for success:
- Plant in well-drained, fertile soil with full sun exposure.
- Keep soil consistently moist but never waterlogged.
- Allow for good air circulation to minimize disease.
- Protect fruit from birds using netting or row covers.
- Mulch around plants to keep roots cool and conserve moisture.
- Remove runners if growing alpine types for a more compact habit.
- Fertilize at the start of the growing season with a balanced, organic fertilizer.
What others are reading
For maximum success, start seeds indoors 14â16 weeks before your average last frost date, or purchase starter plants where available .
Debunking Strawberry Myths: What Doesnât Exist
- Bright blue, neon green, black, or rainbow colored strawberries are not real, despite images online.
- Be wary of any seed supplier promising these mythical berries.
- Always purchase seeds or plants from reputable sources.
Table: Popular Different Colored Strawberry Varieties
| Variety | Color | Flavor Notes | Flower Color | Special Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White Alpine | White | Pineapple, sweet | White | Runnerless, compact |
| Pineberry | White (red seeds) | Pineapple/berry | White | Needs pollinator |
| Pink Panda | Pink | Very sweet | Pink | Groundcover, ornamental |
| Purple Wonder | Dark red/purple | Rich, aromatic | White | High antioxidants |
| Yellow Wonder | Yellow/cream | Sweet, fragrant | White | Alpine, reseeds |
| Golden Alexandria | Golden | Sweet, floral | White | Compact, ornamental |
| Ruby Ann | Red | Classic berry | Red | Decorative blooms |
Tips for Selecting Colored Strawberry Varieties
- Check plant hardiness for your local climate and USDA zone.
- Alpine strawberries (like White Alpine or Yellow Wonder) are ideal for borders and containers.
- If growing pineberries, make sure to plant a red-strawberry variety nearby for optimal pollination.
- Mix and match for a spectrum of colors in your harvest basket.
- Read descriptions carefully; some novelty strawberries are more ornamental than flavorful.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Are colored strawberries as sweet as red strawberries?
A: Many colored strawberries, particularly alpine and pineberry types, are just as sweet, if not sweeter, than standard red varieties. Some also offer exotic notes like pineapple, citrus, or floral undertones.
Q: Can I buy colored strawberries in grocery stores?
A: Most novelty strawberries are unavailable commercially. They’re best enjoyed homegrown as their delicate fruit doesn’t ship well and is often too tender for mass market sales.
Q: Are colored strawberries genetically modified?
A: No. True colored strawberry varieties were developed through traditional breeding, often crossing wild types with domesticated varieties. Avoid ‘rainbow’ or ‘neon’ seed scams, as those are not real.
Q: How long does it take to grow strawberries from seed?
A: Strawberry seeds typically germinate in 2-4 weeks under optimal conditions. Fruit can be expected the first year if started indoors early; otherwise, harvest begins the following season.
Q: Can colored strawberries be grown in pots or containers?
A: Absolutely! Many alpine types and newer compact varieties thrive in pots, hanging baskets, and vertical planters, bringing color and unique fruit right to your patio or balcony.
Conclusion
Adding differently colored strawberries to your garden brings a sense of wonder, diversity, and delicious flavors. From the fragrant white pineberry to the bold purple wonder or golden alpine berries, thereâs a strawberry for every taste and landscape style. By growing your own, youâll enjoy fresh, flavorful fruit unavailable anywhere elseâand your garden will be the talk of the neighborhood. Ready to plant something unique? Try one or more of these spectacular colored strawberry varieties this year!
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