I bolted upright at 2 a. m. , awakened by loud, forceful hail pounding down on the roof. It was June 28, just a week into summer. I got up and walked across the dark living room to peek out the sliding glass doors. No matter how cold and hard those icy pellets were, the hail was a welcome break from the recent dry spell that left flowers in the fields and forests thirsty for water.
The next day dawned with a thin coat of white on the mountaintops. A patch of calypso orchids bloomed in my friend’s yard. And I found my first wild strawberries of the season.
Last year, the wild strawberries surprised me. I was used to them bearing fruit at the start of August where I lived before, at 11,000 feet in the dry hills of Fairplay, Colorado. Now we live in Breckenridge, which is lower at 10,000 feet than our old mountainside home. It’s easier to breathe here, and the strawberries ripen faster.
Early July: I was walking around our Peak 8 neighborhood when I almost tripped over a lot of fruit in the road bed on top of a ditch near my apartment. As I climbed down into the ditch, I got a good look up its steep side and saw a world of bright red gems hidden beneath the low plants. Forget all those hours spent seeking small glimpses of red at our old place. The real deal. A lot of small handfuls were my reward for going down into the ditch to get them.
Of course, that’s keeping in mind that the ditch is not the best place for wild food foraging. Even though it’s not Interstate 70, where the plants on the right-of-way are probably covered in high levels of arsenic and other chemicals from cars, cars still drive by pretty often. Also, magnesium chloride is used on the roads in the winter, and it’s not clear what effect that has on the plants. It looks like the dandelions along Breckenridge’s public roads should also get a toxic dousing, even though they aren’t on the list of noxious weeds. So there’s always the possibility of drift from that as well. (Forager looks skyward and shakes fists in despair).
Obviously, better places to gather wild strawberries are less trafficked. They really do like a variety of places to live, from dry, open hillsides to spots in trees with dappled light. The spots in the trees with dappled light are more likely to produce fruit later.
It’s possible for sand to get into your berries if you pick them somewhere sandy. Such times, I let my slightly sandy strawberries simmer and then strain the sweet juice through a coffee filter, throwing away the pulp. They are especially nice to find in a good forest, though, because the fruit of the berries is also very pretty. It’s worth the hour you spend on your hands and knees gathering them.
Wild strawberries are found throughout the US, pretty much everywhere except Nevada and the Deep South. According to Sam Thayer’s harvest calendar in Nature’s Garden (2010), they usually ripen in the Midwest in June and stay ripe until the beginning of July. The calendar includes helpful estimates for making changes to the dates based on changes in elevation and distance from the reference point.
But if you live above 9,000 feet in the Rocky Mountains, the season has just started. If you don’t find them tomorrow, that doesn’t mean you won’t find them tomorrow. I’ve found wild strawberries that are still fruiting well into fall here in the high country. It’s best to learn the leaves, look for them in different places, and keep an eye out.
Strawberry leaves come in a range of shapes and sizes depending on the variety, but they share some common characteristics that make them easily recognizable. Getting familiar with the appearance of strawberry leaves can help you identify and care for your strawberry plants.
Typical Strawberry Leaf Features
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Three leaflets – Each strawberry leaf is made up of three small, oval-shaped leaflets emerging from a central point on the leaf stem. The three leaflets give the leaves their distinctive tri-lobed shape.
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Serrated edges – The edges of strawberry leaflets are finely serrated or toothed. The small rounded teeth are evenly spaced along the margins.
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Pointed tips – Each individual leaflet comes to a tapered point at the tip The central leaflet is often a little more elongated than the two side leaflets,
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Netted veins – The leaflets have conspicuous net-like venation on their surface. The veins stand out more on the underside of the leaves.
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Green color – Strawberry leaves are typically medium to dark green in color, although some varieties may have slightly lighter or red-tinted leaves. The leaves are greener and glossier on their upper surface.
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Alternate arrangement – Leaves emerge one per node, alternating sides along the strawberry plant’s stems and crown.
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Petioles – Each leaf has a slender petiole (leaf stem) that attaches it to the main stem Leaf petioles may be up to 4 inches long
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Stipules – Two small leafy structures known as stipules grow at the base of each leaf petiole where it meets the stem.
Leaf Size and Shape
There is considerable variation in the size and exact shape of strawberry leaves depending on the cultivar. Specific types exhibit unique leaf characteristics.
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June-bearing – These varieties produce relatively large, thick leaves up to 6 inches long and 4 inches wide. Leaflets are broadly oval with deeply serrated margins.
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Everbearing – Everbearing strawberry leaves tend to be medium in size and narrowly oval in shape, reaching about 4 inches long and 2 inches wide. The leaflets have shallow rounded teeth.
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Alpine – Alpine strawberries have very small, delicate leaves no more than 2 inches long. The thin leaflets are deeply lobed with sharper serrations.
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Wild – Wild strawberry leaves are also diminutive, typically under 2 inches long. The leaflets are fan-shaped with very fine rounded teeth on the edges.
How Leaves Grow on Strawberry Plants
Strawberry leaves sprout from the crown of the plant – the condensed stem area where roots, runners, and fruit trusses emerge. New leaves form continuously as the plant grows through the season.
- Young developing leaves may be reddish in color before maturing to green.
- Lower crown leaves are the oldest. Oldest leaves deteriorate and fall off as new crown leaves form higher up.
- Each branch or runner generates its own alternating leaf pattern as it elongates from the crown.
- Leaves get progressively smaller up the flower trusses and fruiting stems.
What Do Strawberry Plant Leaves Do?
The leaves play an integral role in the growth and productivity of the strawberry plant. Their specialized structure allows the leaves to efficiently capture sunlight and conduct photosynthesis.
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Photosynthesis – Green leaves contain chlorophyll to absorb sunlight. They convert light energy to chemical energy and produce sugars to fuel plant growth.
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Gas exchange – Leaves take in carbon dioxide through pores called stomata. They release oxygen as a byproduct of photosynthesis.
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Transpiration – The leaves absorb and release water vapor through stomatal transpiration, which drives water and nutrient transport from roots to shoots.
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Energy storage – Leaves produce sugars and other carbohydrates that are transported to the roots and developing fruits to support growth and fruit production.
Signs of Problems
Unhealthy strawberry leaves can be an early indicator of pest, disease, or environmental issues. Some signs of trouble include:
- Yellowing or browning of leaf edges
- Spotted, mushy or misshapen leaves
- White powdery coating or black sooty mold on leaves
- Chewed holes in leaves or excessive leaf loss
- Wilting, drooping, or drying leaves
Inspect leaves regularly and address any abnormalities right away to maintain plant vigor. Removing and destroying affected leaves helps limit spread.
When Do Strawberry Leaves Die?
Strawberry leaves have a limited lifespan and are replaced by new growth seasonally. Cooler temperatures in fall trigger leaf senescence in preparation for winter dormancy.
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June-bearing types shed most leaves after fruiting through late spring and summer. Plants produce a flush of new leaves in fall that remain green through winter in milder climates.
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Everbearing and day-neutral cultivars continuously produce new leaves during the fruiting season. Plants renew all leaves in late fall for overwintering.
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Alpine and wild strawberries replace their thin leaves several times per season. Plants generate fresh leaves in late fall/early winter for insulation through colder months.
Overview of Strawberry Leaf Features
Strawberry leaves have a distinct appearance well-suited to photosynthesis and transpiration. Becoming familiar with healthy leaf characteristics helps monitor plants and identify issues requiring intervention. Well-developed leaves fuel plant growth and berry production through their natural lifecycle.
Strawberry Plant Growing Time Lapse – Seed To Fruit (95 Days)
FAQ
How do you identify strawberry leaves?
What do the leaves on a strawberry plant look like?
What do fake strawberry plants look like?
How do I identify a strawberry bush?
What does a strawberry plant look like?
Strawberry plant leaves are a deep green color and are oval-shaped with a serrated edge. The leaves are arranged alternately on the stem, and they are typically 2-4 inches long and 1-2 inches wide. The leaves are covered in a fine layer of hairs, which help to protect them from the sun and from pests.
How many calories are in strawberries?
Strawberries have approximately 30kcal per 100g. 15g serving of medium-sized strawberries has about 5 kcal. Strawberries contain xylitol, which inhibits the growth of cavity-causing bacteria.
How big are strawberry leaves?
The size of strawberry leaves varies depending on the variety of strawberry plant. However, most leaves are between 2 and 4 inches long and 1 and 2 inches wide. The texture of strawberry leaves is typically smooth and waxy. The leaves are also covered in a fine layer of hairs, which help to protect the plant from the sun and pests.
How do you identify a strawberry plant?
Identifying a strawberry plant is easy if you know what to look for. It is a small, herbaceous perennial with three leaves per plant. The leaves are typically fine-toothed and have a three-lobed shape. They are usually a deep green color, with a yellowish hue in some cases.
What are strawberry leaves made of?
The leaves are also covered in a fine layer of hairs, which help to protect the plant from the sun and pests. Strawberry plant leaves are made up of several different parts, including the leaf blade, petiole, and stipules. The leaf blade is the main part of the leaf. It is responsible for photosynthesis and other important plant functions.
How do you know if a strawberry plant has fruit?
In summary, look for a small herbaceous perennial with three-lobed leaves, white flowers with yellow centers, and runners with a reddish-brown hue. Additionally, the plant should produce small, red fruits with white seeds or flecks on the surface. How Long Does It Take For A Strawberry Plant To Produce Fruit?