What Colour are Strawberry Seeds? A Guide to Strawberry Seed Colours

Have you ever noticed the tiny yellow or red speckles on the surface of strawberries and wondered what they are? Those little bumps are actually the seeds of the strawberry fruit scientifically known as achenes. While most people are familiar with the standard red strawberry there are actually many varieties that produce differently colored achenes. Read on to learn about the range of strawberry seed colors and what causes them.

The seeds on the exterior of the strawberry are technically called achenes. Each achene contains a single seed and is attached to the fleshy part of the berry known as the receptacle. The color of the achenes depends on the variety of strawberry. Here are some key facts about strawberry seeds

• They are located on the surface of the strawberry rather than inside like some other fruits.

• Each achene contains one seed that can be planted to grow new strawberry plants.

• Their color is determined by genetics and stage of ripeness.

• Standard grocery store strawberries usually have yellow achenes, but homegrown varieties can have different colors.

What Causes the Color of Strawberry Seeds?

The color of the achenes is influenced by two main factors – variety and ripeness.

Variety: There are hundreds of different strawberry cultivars, some of which have naturally different colored achenes based on their genetics. Alpine strawberries like ‘White Soul’ tend to have yellow achenes while others like ‘Lipstick’ produce red achenes.

Ripeness: As strawberries ripen, they undergo changes in pigmentation. Unripe green achenes will turn yellow, pink, or red upon ripening. The extent of the color change depends on the variety.

The main pigments responsible for achene color are anthocyanins. These flavonoid compounds also influence the red color in strawberry flesh. Other antioxidants like ellagitannins affect achene color as well.

Common Strawberry Seed Colors

Here are some of the most frequently seen strawberry seed colors and what causes them:

• Yellow – This is the most common achene color seen on grocery store strawberries. Certain varieties have yellow genetics while others turn yellow upon ripening.

• Red – Many homegrown and wild strawberries have red achenes. This occurs naturally in certain varieties.

• Pink – Pink achenes are seen on strawberries like Alpine White that have red speckles on a white background. It can also develop through cross-pollination.

• Brown – Older achenes often turn brown. Fully ripe achenes on varieties like Musk and Mara des Bois also appear brown or purplish-brown.

• Green – Unripe strawberries will have green achenes that later change to red, yellow, etc. Green achenes are common on partially ripe berries.

• White – A few varieties like White Carolina and White Alpine have achenes that remain cream-colored rather than turning red or yellow.

How Achene Color Relates to Strawberry Flesh Color

While achene color depends on variety and ripeness, strawberry flesh color is not strongly correlated. For example, Alpine White strawberries have bright white flesh and creamy yellow achenes. Other white-fruited berries may have red or green achenes.

However, in standard red-fleshed strawberry varieties, the development of red anthocyanin pigments in the achenes does parallel the increase of anthocyanins in the flesh as the fruit ripens.

Therefore, achene color can generally be used as an indicator of ripeness for red strawberry varieties, with yellow achenes signifying optimally ripe berries. But achene color does not directly determine or influence flesh color.

Impact of Achene Color on Flavor

Does achene color affect strawberry flavor? There is little evidence that achene color alone impacts flavor. However, because achene and flesh color both correlate to ripeness, fully colored achenes often coincide with optimal flavor.

Additionally, varieties with genetically white achenes like Alpine White and White Soul tend to be exceptionally flavorful. But this relates more to the uniqueness of those cultivars rather than achene color itself.

Therefore, the visible color of strawberry seeds does not directly determine flavor or interior color but can serve as a useful clue for ripeness, especially for homegrown berries.

Growing Your Own Colorful Strawberry Varieties

One fun way to experience the diversity of achene colors is to grow your own strawberries from seed. Collecting and planting achenes from grocery store berries can yield some surprising new colors and flavors.

Heirloom varieties like Alpine White, Yellow Wonder, and Lipstick are also widely available as starter plants. Growing a mix provides a colorful harvest. And sampling different types of strawberries is an excellent way to appreciate the variations in seeds and flavor.

So next time you bite into a juicy berry, take a closer look at those tiny seeds. Their color can reveal some interesting botanical insights and genetic history!

Yes, strawberry seeds can be black. While they are typically small, hard, and a light color like yellow or brown, they can also turn black due to a fungal disease called black seed disease.