Strawberry plants can be male, female, or hermaphrodite (having both male and female reproductive organs).
While most commercially grown strawberries are hermaphroditic, meaning they possess both male (pollen-producing) and female (fruit-producing) parts in each flower, some varieties exhibit distinct male or female characteristics. Strawberry breeders recognize these three reproductive functions:
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Male Plants: These plants produce flowers that contain pollen but are unable to develop into fruit. Their sole function is to pollinate female or hermaphrodite plants.
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Female Plants: These plants produce flowers capable of developing into fruit, but they cannot produce their own pollen. Therefore, they require pollination from male or hermaphrodite plants to yield a crop.
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Hermaphrodite Plants: These are the most common type in commercial strawberry cultivation. They have flowers with both pollen-producing and fruit-producing parts, enabling them to self-pollinate and produce fruit independently. These are also sometimes referred to as "perfect-flowered" varieties.
Therefore, it's inaccurate to say that all strawberries are one specific sex. The sexual expression of strawberry plants depends on the specific variety. Most are hermaphrodites, but male and female plants also exist.
