Fragaria × Comarum hybrids

Fragaria x Comarum 'Pink Panda'

There are several commercially important hybrids between Fragaria and Comarum species in existence, but they have not yet received formal botanical names as hybrids between those genera. Both Fragaria and Comarum have at different times been considered to be part of the genus Potentilla, and these hybrids have been named Potentilla x rosea, or are sometimes referred to as Fragaria × Potentilla hybrids.

The first-generation hybrids have been recorded as heptaploid, i.e. with seven sets of chromosomes; four sets of chromosomes came from their octaploid strawberry parent, and three from their hexaploid Comarum parent.

Commercial cultivars

All commercial cultivars resemble strawberries more closely than they do Comarum. They are all vigorous, and produce runners profusely.

• The 'Frel' Strawberry, also known as Pink Panda, is a patented hybrid strawberry that is the result of crossing the garden strawberry Fragaria × ananassa subspecies cuneifolia with Marsh Cinquefoil, Comarum palustre (formerly Potentilla palustris), followed by backcrossing to strawberry. The plant is grown for ornamental purposes. It has bright pink flowers (in contrast to the white flowers of naturally occurring strawberry species) and it produces a small number of strawberries.

• 'Franor' (marketed as 'Red Ruby Strawberry') developed as a sport of 'Pink Panda', and features a more intense red color in the flowers.

• 'Gerald Straley' is a seedling of 'Pink Panda', selected at Heronswood in Washington for its bright red flowers. It was named after the former curator of the University of British Columbia Botanical Gardens.

• The 'Lipstick' Strawberry is a recently developed variety that is the result of a cross between the Marsh Cinquefoil, Comarum palustre, and the Garden Strawberry. It has deep pink to red flowers, and slightly larger, more flavorful berries than 'Pink Panda'. It, too, is grown for ornamental purposes.

Flower of 'Pink Panda'

File:FragariaHybrid.jpg Lipstick Strawberry with runners