diff --git a/.changeset/gold-ducks-sort.md b/.changeset/gold-ducks-sort.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b515eeaf8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/gold-ducks-sort.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+'mermaid': patch
+---
+
+fix: Proper separation between strings and markdown strings
diff --git a/cypress/integration/rendering/flowchart-v2.spec.js b/cypress/integration/rendering/flowchart-v2.spec.js
index 5ef32c269..1ebf83a0b 100644
--- a/cypress/integration/rendering/flowchart-v2.spec.js
+++ b/cypress/integration/rendering/flowchart-v2.spec.js
@@ -1174,8 +1174,8 @@ end
     end
     githost["Github, Gitlab, BitBucket, etc."]
     githost2["\`Github, Gitlab, BitBucket, etc.\`"]
-    a["1."]
-    b["- x"]
+    a["\`1.\`"]
+    b["\`- x\`"]
       `;
 
     it('should render raw strings', () => {
diff --git a/cypress/integration/rendering/flowchart.spec.js b/cypress/integration/rendering/flowchart.spec.js
index 40713ac4e..f94ca7d4e 100644
--- a/cypress/integration/rendering/flowchart.spec.js
+++ b/cypress/integration/rendering/flowchart.spec.js
@@ -973,4 +973,49 @@ graph TD
       }
     );
   });
+  it('#5824: should be able to render string and markdown labels', () => {
+    imgSnapshotTest(
+      `
+flowchart TB
+    mermaid{"What is\nyourmermaid version?"} --> v10["<11"] --"\`<**1**1\`"--> fine["No bug"]
+    mermaid --> v11[">= v11"] -- ">= v11" --> broken["Affected by https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/issues/5824"]
+    subgraph subgraph1["\`How to fix **fix**\`"]
+        broken --> B["B"]
+    end
+    githost["Github, Gitlab, BitBucket, etc."]
+    githost2["\`Github, Gitlab, BitBucket, etc.\`"]
+    a["1."]
+    b["- x"]
+    `,
+      {
+        flowchart: { htmlLabels: true },
+        securityLevel: 'loose',
+      }
+    );
+  });
+  it('69: should render subgraphs with adhoc list headings', () => {
+    imgSnapshotTest(
+      `
+    graph TB
+      subgraph "1. first"
+        a1-->a2
+      end
+      subgraph 2. second
+        b1-->b2
+      end
+      `,
+      { fontFamily: 'courier' }
+    );
+  });
+  it('70: should render subgraphs with markdown headings', () => {
+    imgSnapshotTest(
+      `
+    graph TB
+      subgraph "\`**strong**\`"
+        a1-->a2
+      end
+      `,
+      { fontFamily: 'courier' }
+    );
+  });
 });
diff --git a/docs/config/setup/mermaid/interfaces/ParseOptions.md b/docs/config/setup/mermaid/interfaces/ParseOptions.md
index 628da0da0..185a78e8e 100644
--- a/docs/config/setup/mermaid/interfaces/ParseOptions.md
+++ b/docs/config/setup/mermaid/interfaces/ParseOptions.md
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 
 # Interface: ParseOptions
 
-Defined in: [packages/mermaid/src/types.ts:88](https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/blob/master/packages/mermaid/src/types.ts#L88)
+Defined in: [packages/mermaid/src/types.ts:73](https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/blob/master/packages/mermaid/src/types.ts#L73)
 
 ## Properties
 
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ Defined in: [packages/mermaid/src/types.ts:88](https://github.com/mermaid-js/mer
 
 > `optional` **suppressErrors**: `boolean`
 
-Defined in: [packages/mermaid/src/types.ts:93](https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/blob/master/packages/mermaid/src/types.ts#L93)
+Defined in: [packages/mermaid/src/types.ts:78](https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/blob/master/packages/mermaid/src/types.ts#L78)
 
 If `true`, parse will return `false` instead of throwing error when the diagram is invalid.
 The `parseError` function will not be called.
diff --git a/docs/config/setup/mermaid/interfaces/ParseResult.md b/docs/config/setup/mermaid/interfaces/ParseResult.md
index 0e200aa95..1ceb870c3 100644
--- a/docs/config/setup/mermaid/interfaces/ParseResult.md
+++ b/docs/config/setup/mermaid/interfaces/ParseResult.md
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 
 # Interface: ParseResult
 
-Defined in: [packages/mermaid/src/types.ts:96](https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/blob/master/packages/mermaid/src/types.ts#L96)
+Defined in: [packages/mermaid/src/types.ts:81](https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/blob/master/packages/mermaid/src/types.ts#L81)
 
 ## Properties
 
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ Defined in: [packages/mermaid/src/types.ts:96](https://github.com/mermaid-js/mer
 
 > **config**: [`MermaidConfig`](MermaidConfig.md)
 
-Defined in: [packages/mermaid/src/types.ts:104](https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/blob/master/packages/mermaid/src/types.ts#L104)
+Defined in: [packages/mermaid/src/types.ts:89](https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/blob/master/packages/mermaid/src/types.ts#L89)
 
 The config passed as YAML frontmatter or directives
 
@@ -28,6 +28,6 @@ The config passed as YAML frontmatter or directives
 
 > **diagramType**: `string`
 
-Defined in: [packages/mermaid/src/types.ts:100](https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/blob/master/packages/mermaid/src/types.ts#L100)
+Defined in: [packages/mermaid/src/types.ts:85](https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/blob/master/packages/mermaid/src/types.ts#L85)
 
 The diagram type, e.g. 'flowchart', 'sequence', etc.
diff --git a/docs/config/setup/mermaid/interfaces/RenderResult.md b/docs/config/setup/mermaid/interfaces/RenderResult.md
index 237c51de2..7cb80526b 100644
--- a/docs/config/setup/mermaid/interfaces/RenderResult.md
+++ b/docs/config/setup/mermaid/interfaces/RenderResult.md
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 
 # Interface: RenderResult
 
-Defined in: [packages/mermaid/src/types.ts:114](https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/blob/master/packages/mermaid/src/types.ts#L114)
+Defined in: [packages/mermaid/src/types.ts:99](https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/blob/master/packages/mermaid/src/types.ts#L99)
 
 ## Properties
 
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ Defined in: [packages/mermaid/src/types.ts:114](https://github.com/mermaid-js/me
 
 > `optional` **bindFunctions**: (`element`) => `void`
 
-Defined in: [packages/mermaid/src/types.ts:132](https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/blob/master/packages/mermaid/src/types.ts#L132)
+Defined in: [packages/mermaid/src/types.ts:117](https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/blob/master/packages/mermaid/src/types.ts#L117)
 
 Bind function to be called after the svg has been inserted into the DOM.
 This is necessary for adding event listeners to the elements in the svg.
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ bindFunctions?.(div); // To call bindFunctions only if it's present.
 
 > **diagramType**: `string`
 
-Defined in: [packages/mermaid/src/types.ts:122](https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/blob/master/packages/mermaid/src/types.ts#L122)
+Defined in: [packages/mermaid/src/types.ts:107](https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/blob/master/packages/mermaid/src/types.ts#L107)
 
 The diagram type, e.g. 'flowchart', 'sequence', etc.
 
@@ -55,6 +55,6 @@ The diagram type, e.g. 'flowchart', 'sequence', etc.
 
 > **svg**: `string`
 
-Defined in: [packages/mermaid/src/types.ts:118](https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/blob/master/packages/mermaid/src/types.ts#L118)
+Defined in: [packages/mermaid/src/types.ts:103](https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/blob/master/packages/mermaid/src/types.ts#L103)
 
 The svg code for the rendered graph.
diff --git a/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/flowchart/flowDb.ts b/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/flowchart/flowDb.ts
index 632633730..2329f0ace 100644
--- a/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/flowchart/flowDb.ts
+++ b/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/flowchart/flowDb.ts
@@ -85,6 +85,17 @@ export class FlowDB implements DiagramDB {
     return common.sanitizeText(txt, this.config);
   }
 
+  private sanitizeNodeLabelType(labelType?: string) {
+    switch (labelType) {
+      case 'markdown':
+      case 'string':
+      case 'text':
+        return labelType;
+      default:
+        return 'markdown';
+    }
+  }
+
   /**
    * Function to lookup domId from id in the graph definition.
    *
@@ -208,6 +219,7 @@ export class FlowDB implements DiagramDB {
 
       if (doc?.label) {
         vertex.text = doc?.label;
+        vertex.labelType = this.sanitizeNodeLabelType(doc?.labelType);
       }
       if (doc?.icon) {
         vertex.icon = doc?.icon;
@@ -267,7 +279,7 @@ export class FlowDB implements DiagramDB {
       if (edge.text.startsWith('"') && edge.text.endsWith('"')) {
         edge.text = edge.text.substring(1, edge.text.length - 1);
       }
-      edge.labelType = linkTextObj.type;
+      edge.labelType = this.sanitizeNodeLabelType(linkTextObj.type);
     }
 
     if (type !== undefined) {
@@ -702,7 +714,7 @@ You have to call mermaid.initialize.`
       title: title.trim(),
       classes: [],
       dir,
-      labelType: _title.type,
+      labelType: this.sanitizeNodeLabelType(_title?.type),
     };
 
     log.info('Adding', subGraph.id, subGraph.nodes, subGraph.dir);
@@ -1012,6 +1024,7 @@ You have to call mermaid.initialize.`
       const baseNode = {
         id: vertex.id,
         label: vertex.text,
+        labelType: vertex.labelType,
         labelStyle: '',
         parentId,
         padding: config.flowchart?.padding || 8,
@@ -1088,6 +1101,7 @@ You have to call mermaid.initialize.`
         id: subGraph.id,
         label: subGraph.title,
         labelStyle: '',
+        labelType: subGraph.labelType,
         parentId: parentDB.get(subGraph.id),
         padding: 8,
         cssCompiledStyles: this.getCompiledStyles(subGraph.classes),
@@ -1119,6 +1133,7 @@ You have to call mermaid.initialize.`
         end: rawEdge.end,
         type: rawEdge.type ?? 'normal',
         label: rawEdge.text,
+        labelType: rawEdge.labelType,
         labelpos: 'c',
         thickness: rawEdge.stroke,
         minlen: rawEdge.length,
diff --git a/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/flowchart/types.ts b/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/flowchart/types.ts
index 54156091b..ac2d04015 100644
--- a/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/flowchart/types.ts
+++ b/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/flowchart/types.ts
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ export interface FlowVertex {
   domId: string;
   haveCallback?: boolean;
   id: string;
-  labelType: 'text';
+  labelType: 'markdown' | 'string' | 'text';
   link?: string;
   linkTarget?: string;
   props?: any;
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ export interface FlowEdge {
   style?: string[];
   length?: number;
   text: string;
-  labelType: 'text';
+  labelType: 'markdown' | 'string' | 'text';
   classes: string[];
   id?: string;
   animation?: 'fast' | 'slow';
diff --git a/packages/mermaid/src/rendering-util/rendering-elements/clusters.js b/packages/mermaid/src/rendering-util/rendering-elements/clusters.js
index 1dd87d438..4f49bd5d6 100644
--- a/packages/mermaid/src/rendering-util/rendering-elements/clusters.js
+++ b/packages/mermaid/src/rendering-util/rendering-elements/clusters.js
@@ -30,11 +30,17 @@ const rect = async (parent, node) => {
   // Create the label and insert it after the rect
   const labelEl = shapeSvg.insert('g').attr('class', 'cluster-label ');
 
-  const text = await createText(labelEl, node.label, {
-    style: node.labelStyle,
-    useHtmlLabels,
-    isNode: true,
-  });
+  let text;
+  if (node.labelType === 'markdown') {
+    text = await createText(labelEl, node.label, {
+      style: node.labelStyle,
+      useHtmlLabels,
+      isNode: true,
+    });
+  } else {
+    const labelElement = await createLabel(node.label, node.labelStyle, false, true);
+    text = labelEl.node()?.appendChild(labelElement);
+  }
 
   // Get the size of the label
   let bbox = text.getBBox();
diff --git a/packages/mermaid/src/rendering-util/rendering-elements/edges.js b/packages/mermaid/src/rendering-util/rendering-elements/edges.js
index 9e308631a..c759bc127 100644
--- a/packages/mermaid/src/rendering-util/rendering-elements/edges.js
+++ b/packages/mermaid/src/rendering-util/rendering-elements/edges.js
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ import {
 import rough from 'roughjs';
 import createLabel from './createLabel.js';
 import { addEdgeMarkers } from './edgeMarker.ts';
-import { isLabelStyle, styles2String } from './shapes/handDrawnShapeStyles.js';
+import { isLabelStyle } from './shapes/handDrawnShapeStyles.js';
 
 export const edgeLabels = new Map();
 export const terminalLabels = new Map();
@@ -47,14 +47,16 @@ export const getLabelStyles = (styleArray) => {
 export const insertEdgeLabel = async (elem, edge) => {
   let useHtmlLabels = evaluate(getConfig().flowchart.htmlLabels);
 
-  const { labelStyles } = styles2String(edge);
-  edge.labelStyle = labelStyles;
-  const labelElement = await createText(elem, edge.label, {
-    style: edge.labelStyle,
-    useHtmlLabels,
-    addSvgBackground: true,
-    isNode: false,
-  });
+  const labelElement =
+    edge.labelType === 'markdown'
+      ? await createText(elem, edge.label, {
+          style: getLabelStyles(edge.labelStyle),
+          useHtmlLabels,
+          addSvgBackground: true,
+          isNode: false,
+        })
+      : await createLabel(edge.label, getLabelStyles(edge.labelStyle), undefined, false);
+
   log.info('abc82', edge, edge.labelType);
 
   // Create outer g, edgeLabel, this will be positioned after graph layout
diff --git a/packages/mermaid/src/rendering-util/rendering-elements/shapes/util.ts b/packages/mermaid/src/rendering-util/rendering-elements/shapes/util.ts
index 52471ecc0..5911f8f34 100644
--- a/packages/mermaid/src/rendering-util/rendering-elements/shapes/util.ts
+++ b/packages/mermaid/src/rendering-util/rendering-elements/shapes/util.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import createLabel from '../createLabel.js';
 import { createText } from '../../createText.js';
 import type { Node } from '../../types.js';
 import { getConfig } from '../../../diagram-api/diagramAPI.js';
@@ -13,7 +14,7 @@ export const labelHelper = async <T extends SVGGraphicsElement>(
   _classes?: string
 ) => {
   let cssClasses;
-  const useHtmlLabels = node.useHtmlLabels || evaluate(getConfig()?.htmlLabels);
+  const useHtmlLabels = node.useHtmlLabels || evaluate(getConfig()?.flowchart?.htmlLabels);
   if (!_classes) {
     cssClasses = 'node default';
   } else {
@@ -40,14 +41,26 @@ export const labelHelper = async <T extends SVGGraphicsElement>(
     label = typeof node.label === 'string' ? node.label : node.label[0];
   }
 
-  const text = await createText(labelEl, sanitizeText(decodeEntities(label), getConfig()), {
-    useHtmlLabels,
-    width: node.width || getConfig().flowchart?.wrappingWidth,
-    // @ts-expect-error -- This is currently not used. Should this be `classes` instead?
-    cssClasses: 'markdown-node-label',
-    style: node.labelStyle,
-    addSvgBackground: !!node.icon || !!node.img,
-  });
+  let text;
+  if (node.labelType === 'markdown') {
+    text = await createText(labelEl, sanitizeText(decodeEntities(label), getConfig()), {
+      useHtmlLabels,
+      width: node.width || getConfig().flowchart?.wrappingWidth,
+      // @ts-expect-error -- This is currently not used. Should this be `classes` instead?
+      cssClasses: 'markdown-node-label',
+      style: node.labelStyle,
+      addSvgBackground: !!node.icon || !!node.img,
+    });
+  } else {
+    const labelElement = await createLabel(
+      sanitizeText(decodeEntities(label), getConfig()),
+      node.labelStyle,
+      false,
+      true
+    );
+    text = labelEl.node()?.appendChild(labelElement);
+  }
+
   // Get the size of the label
   let bbox = text.getBBox();
   const halfPadding = (node?.padding ?? 0) / 2;
diff --git a/packages/mermaid/src/types.ts b/packages/mermaid/src/types.ts
index 727b6bb3a..31b8e29f6 100644
--- a/packages/mermaid/src/types.ts
+++ b/packages/mermaid/src/types.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 export interface NodeMetaData {
   shape?: string;
   label?: string;
+  labelType?: string;
   icon?: string;
   form?: string;
   pos?: 't' | 'b';