Read our Substack titled: Breeding for Flavor: The Decades-Long Evolution of Alpine Strawberry 'Pineapple Crush'

Pineapple Crush are vigorous, mounding alpine plants that stay manageable without runners. They can reach impressive size with enhanced productivity when given space — ideal for generous harvests in beds or large containers.

It is difficult to characterize the flavor of Pineapple Crush fruit. I heard some describe it as an intense pineapple/vanilla flavor/aroma. I think that partially describes it. I'm still looking for a description that takes in all the flavor/aroma characteristics. Let me know how you describe the flavor/aroma.

We purchased seed of Pineapple Crush from a nursery in New England (MA) in 1991. It was one of the first white fruiting alpines that we acquired. It did not at that time have the distinctive flavor that it has today. Through the years since, we have selected fruit for seed saving that had better growth characteristics and fruit flavor each time we collected fruit for seed saving. We also exposed plants to some extreme conditions such as high temperatures. We have grown it in a ventilated screened cold frame where temperatures soar over 100 degrees on most days in the summer. At times day time temperatures have reached 120 degrees. Plants were grown in self watering containers or they would not have survived these conditions. We consider this the best flavored alpine strawberry of not only white fruiting types but better than any of the red fruiting cultivars that we grow. The plants are very productive and can reach huge sizes even in their first year of production. Fruit size has also increased over the years. Year after year plants attain the size that you see in the photos here. They overwinter well with 100% survival here in zone 7a without mulch. Please note that winter survival is not as good in sub-irrigation containers as it is in our new standard container which is a Roottrapper II.

Pineapple Crush is a very productive cultivar. When we grew fruit for sale to restaurants this is the cultivar we grew for yellow/white fruit for some innovative chefs. The fruit is a pale yellow at full ripe and very soft. We think it is sweeter than the red varieties. There is a strong wild aroma and a hint of pineapple flavor. An excellent cultivar. Our best seller for good reason!

To clarify: The third image in the gallery here is dried fruit. We use dried fruit in our seed saving process.

Packet contains 50+ seeds per packet. We use a measuring device to "count" seeds. It is calibrated to dispense 63 seeds per packet. We guarantee 50 seeds.

Seed produced in Delaware USA.

A biochemist that we know that has analyzed the flavor and aroma components of strawberries told us:

"I can tell you that all F. vesca varieties I've analyzed produce far greater quantities of the molecules that give the fruit it's flavor compared to any Domestic strawberry. I can tell you that of all the F. vesca I've analyzed pineapple crush produces probably the highest flavor levels I've seen. Much higher than Alexandria or Mignonette for example."

A comment received from a customer on January 21, 2020: "l.... pineapple crush

Germination of Current Seed
Seed Packed for 2026
Germ: 84%

There are several YouTube videos online. Search for Michael Wellik Pineapple Crush.

General Species Information

All seed that we ship has been frozen for at least 4 weeks prior to shipping. If shipment is not delayed it is ready to sow when received.

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