• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Strawberry Plants
  • About | Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Growing
  • Varieties
  • Seeds
  • Plant
  • Q & A
  • Picking
  • Health
  • Plants for Sale
  • Recipes
search icon
Homepage link
  • Growing
  • Varieties
  • Seeds
  • Plant
  • Q & A
  • Picking
  • Health
  • Plants for Sale
  • Recipes
×

Home » Strawberry Questions & Answers

Red Strawberry Stems and Leaves?

Modified: Feb 9, 2022 by Mr. Strawberry · This post may contain affiliate links · 28 Comments

Close shot of strawberry with red stem and leaves

Question: Red Strawberry Stems and Leaves?

Beth asked:

What causes the strawberrie stems to turn red? we set out a acre of chandlers and we were late due to the weather they were not in the ground but 5 days before it frosted on them we were worried they might have started going into dormant stage because of the stems turning red.

Answer to: Red Strawberry Stems and Leaves?

Strawberry plant with ripe fruits with red stem and leaves

Beth,
Strawberry plants naturally have a red pigment in them. Red stems depend on the genetic expression of the particular plants you have, and red stems are completely normal. Most strawberry plants have enough chlorophyll in the stems to overwhelm the red coloration and make the stems green. Red stems are nothing to worry about. Red strawberry leaves, however, are a different story. If your strawberry leaves are turning red, they are likely dying. Some fungal infections can cause them to die. Other times, the leaves are just dying because they are old. Regardless, strawberry leaves turning red do not serve a helpful function for strawberry plants and should be removed and discarded.

This is a question submitted to StrawberryPlants.org by a reader. See the Strawberry FAQ for more questions and answers.

Learn everything about growing strawberries from the Strawberry Master Manual, also don't forget to follow me on Pinterest and Facebook to stay updated with everything I post. We also have a Strawberry gardening group on Facebook! Feel free to join.

More Strawberry Questions & Answers

  • Why Are My Strawberries Misshapen?
  • Brown Spots on Strawberries: Cause, Prevention and Treatment
  • 4 Ways to Dry Strawberries + Recipes and Uses
  • Strawberry Serving?

Sharing is caring!

703 shares
  • 703

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Nicole Torres

    August 05, 2018 at 8:28 am

    Hi Mr Strawberry,
    Can I bring the strawberries in the house for the winter? I live in NYC. I had some red leaves which I removed too and my stems are long and red which I like. I am constantly concerned about it and am looking out for any signs of infections. There is a group of around 3 leaves that seem to get getting red at the tips and stem. Should I remove them? And where do I remove them from? The base? This is my 1st strawberry plant!
    Thanks 😉

    Reply
  2. Faraja Roy

    September 07, 2017 at 2:13 am

    Hi, I am new in strawberry planting and reside in Tanzania,Africa. I decided to plant my strawberries in bottle containers on my backyard wall. The plants are in partial shade and seem to be doing fine. I have often been told that the more I prune the runners, the more the enhancement of fruiting process. Its been 5 months now and only one tree of60 has began to flower. Furthermore I water the trees daily and some of leaves have began turning red, I do guess am over watering as this act started recently.I would like advise on whether my trees will produce fruit,though am advised that the first season they may just flower and not produce fruit

    Reply
    • Mr. Strawberry

      September 12, 2017 at 9:17 am

      Faraja Roy,
      In the first year, it is standard practice to remove the blooms to allow for better root development and a heavier harvest the following year. So, this first year, I would recommend snipping the blooms and following the other instructions here. Good luck!

      Reply
  3. Zoe

    July 12, 2017 at 5:51 pm

    Hi. My strawberry plant seems to have red leaves and stems this is my first year growing them. I guess my strawberry plant has got a infection but is there anything I can do to help the plant. Or is it just dead?

    Reply
    • Mr. Strawberry

      July 13, 2017 at 10:26 am

      Zoe,
      If all the leaves are turning red, you probably do have a systemic issue with your plants or soil. If it is just a few of the older leaves that are turning red, the plants could still be healthy. Try removing the red leaves and see what happens to the rest. Good luck!

      Reply
  4. Uldine

    May 14, 2017 at 11:05 am

    My strawberry leaves are a light green. This is their first year. Is there a problem?

    Reply
    • Mr. Strawberry

      May 21, 2017 at 3:44 pm

      Uldine,
      No, they sound normal! Young strawberry leaves are typically a light green or yellowish green. As they mature they will deepen in color to the normal, rich dark strawberry green. Good luck!

      Reply
  5. david

    October 17, 2016 at 10:38 am

    is it okay if my strawberry plant has walked off with a blackberry plant?

    Reply
    • Mr. Strawberry

      October 20, 2016 at 1:05 pm

      david,
      Absolutely not. Walking berry plants belong in a museum.

      Reply
  6. Aizuddin Azhar

    October 06, 2016 at 5:39 am

    Hi! My strawberry leaves are turning brown. Everything is perfect except the leaves. The parts of the leaves that are green have some yellow mixed in it. Is it because the leaves are old? Do I need to take action to ensure that my strawberry plants get to give me a crop next year?

    Reply
    • Mr. Strawberry

      October 20, 2016 at 12:40 pm

      Aizuddin Azhar,
      It is possible that they are just old. The leaves will brown and eventually die back in the fall/winter. It is also possible that you have a nutrient deficiency or water imbalance. You may want to run a soil test to determine if there is a problem or not. Good luck!

      Reply
  7. Clara

    July 12, 2016 at 10:41 pm

    I have 2 strawberry plants. One is normal, one has red on the spiky tips and 3mm sized dots. Some of them are starting to have tiny browness inside the red dots. What is it? Is there anything to do about it?

    Reply
  8. Megan

    June 12, 2016 at 10:55 am

    Someof my strawberry plants have developed a bulging read stem, should I be concerned?

    Reply
    • Mr. Strawberry

      June 15, 2016 at 4:36 pm

      Megan,
      Possibly. If the stem looks damaged, you might have a parasitic infestation. If it just looks red, I’d wait and see what happens. Be sure to remove any dead leaves/stems from the area to decrease the possibility of fungal infections, and good luck!

      Reply
  9. Isabella

    May 19, 2016 at 10:39 pm

    Mr.Strawberry what if my strawberries have red leaves? what do I do?

    Reply
    • Mr. Strawberry

      May 20, 2016 at 2:05 pm

      Isabella,
      The best thing to do is remove them if they are starting to wilt. If the leaves in the center of the crown are still green and vibrant, no other action is probably needed. You might also want to test the soil to ensure that it isn’t deficient in any nutrients or minerals the strawberries need to thrive. Good luck!

      Reply
  10. Mayhita gurung

    September 07, 2015 at 7:35 am

    Do I have to do something about the red stems of my strawberry or just let it be the way they are?

    Reply
    • Mr. Strawberry

      September 23, 2015 at 9:14 am

      Mayhita gurung,
      Just leave them be. Good luck!

      Reply
  11. GardenHo

    May 23, 2015 at 12:29 pm

    Hey there Mr. Strawberry!
    I planted my Lorans and a Quinalt a few weeks ago. I have noticed the Quinalt does have red leaves, specifically the older ones. I had red about a red root fungus(?). It said that the fungus is near impossible to get rid of and that aside from the plant struggling to fruit…well, just basically let the plant die and invest in something more tolerant next year. My questions; Is this info factual? Is there anything at all I can do for the poor thing I already have? I’ve been pinching blossoms and keep chemical-free. Suggestions? Thanks so much.

    Reply
  12. Tiara

    May 05, 2015 at 2:52 pm

    What kind of bugs leave brown holes in the strawberry leaves?

    Reply
  13. chad bolding

    April 27, 2015 at 6:37 pm

    What is the best brand of fertilizer to use? How often do you use it? Spring time here in Oklahoma.

    Reply
    • Mr. Strawberry

      April 30, 2015 at 8:56 am

      chad bolding,
      This page should help: Growing Strawberries. Good luck!

      Reply
  14. elizabeth

    July 16, 2014 at 2:20 pm

    So, its the middle of July here in sunny ENGLAND! Yes, a lovely summer for once. Yet my strawberries are protesting and the larger leaves are turning red. Can I safely assume they are just dying through age? This is the 2nd time this year I have had to chop them back and they come back fine at first, then reach about 5in long and go red (leaves that is)

    Reply
    • Mr. Strawberry

      July 18, 2014 at 9:51 am

      elizabeth,
      You might have a nutrient deficiency in your soil. It would be a good idea to take a soil sample and have it tested to ensure adequate nutrition for your strawberry plants. Good luck!

      Reply
  15. Ronald

    July 02, 2014 at 3:27 pm

    when do you transplant strawberry plants?

    Reply
    • Mr. Strawberry

      July 07, 2014 at 9:30 am

      Ronald,
      This post on transplanting strawberries should answer your questions. Good luck!

      Reply
  16. Kerry

    September 23, 2012 at 5:05 pm

    Should I cut my strawberry plants back in the fall?

    Reply
    • Mr. Strawberry

      September 24, 2012 at 6:50 am

      Kerry,
      Your question is a good one! You can find the information you need to be successful with your strawberry plants, and the answer to your question, on the following pages: Growing Strawberries, Mowing Strawberries, Monthly Growing Strawberries Guide, Strawberry Renovation. Good luck!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Erik Hoffner website admin and strawberry gardener.

Hi, I'm Erik! Welcome to StrawberryPlants.org, your one-stop source for everything related to growing and enjoying strawberries! Here we are passionate about strawberry plants, strawberries, and everything related to this wondrous fruit.

More about me →

Follow Strawberry Plants

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
Strawberry Growing Manual eBook
Get The BEST Strawberry Growing Manual!

Start here:

· Growing Strawberries
· Strawbery Plant
· Buy Strawberry Plants (by variety)
· Strawberry Plants For Sale (by nursery)
· Strawberry Seeds
· Buy Strawberry Seeds (by variety)
· Strawberry Varieties
· Strawberry Picking
· Pick Your Own Strawberries
· Strawberry Nurseries
· Strawberry FAQ

Latest Strawberry Articles

  • Strawberry Vanilla Smoothie Bowl
  • Alpine Yellow Wonder Strawberry Variety Info And Grow Guide
  • Seascape Strawberry Variety Info And Grow Guide
  • Ruby Ann Strawberry Variety Info And Grow Guide

Privacy Policy

About | Contact

Strawberryplants.org is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2023 · Strawberry Plants LLC.