Strawberries: Flowers have a blackened center or are entirely brown

Frost injury

Frost injury causes flower centers (receptacles) to turn from yellow to black. Flowers on left in each photo on this page were injured by frost (black centers). Flowers on the right are healthy (yellow centers).

Three strawberry flowers attached to plant. Leftmost flower has black center, middle and left flowers are healthy and yellow in center.

Dissected strawberry flowers showing frost-damaged blooms with black, dead ovaries on the left, and healthy, yellow-green ovaries on the left.

Fruit will not develop from frost-damaged flowers. Occasionally, frost will partially injure a flower. The resultant fruit is deformed. More strawberry frost damage information

Freeze damage

Freeze damage in strawberries causes fruit to cease development. The dead tissue is more likely to house Botrytis gray mold.

Strawberry plant with brown, dry branches with blossoms and fruit. — Freeze damage on strawberry.