Texturally unzoned porphyroblasts have received considerable attention because their continuity of passive inclusions has utility in assessing strain history in an orogen. In contrast, texturally-zoned porphyroblasts, whose inclusions lack continuity, have received little attention and hence are poorly understood. In light of this, this study presents the first classification scheme for texturally-zoned porphyroblasts coupled with assessment of their origin and geometry, and finds that they form for myriad reasons, but are equally important for assessing growth and strain history in an orogen. Texturally-zoned porphyroblasts can be classified as texturally-sector- or non-sector zoned. Each type has subtypes wherein zoning may be strain induced, require the absence of strain, or develop irrespective of strain. Texturally sector-zoned porphyroblasts contain a crystallographically-controlled distribution of inclusions concentrated along growth sector boundaries (sector-boundary zoning) or in specific growth sectors (sector-hourglass zoning). Most sector-boundary zoned minerals such as chiastolite, garnet, and staurolite form in an environment that lacks strain. Sector-hourglass zoning occurs in chloritoid, biotite, and staurolite. Chloritoid develops sector-hour glass zoning irrespective of strain, but biotite requires strain. Non-sector zoning can occur in any mineral species and is characterized by inclusion-free or -poor zones that transect growth sector boundaries. Nonsector zoning includes concentric and replacement zoning that can develop with or without strain, as well as fracture-fill zoning, which requires strain to develop. Despite the lack of continuity of inclusions, the presence of textura! zoning may be important because recognition of a particular zoning subtype may suggest the presence or absence of strain during porphyroblast growth.