How Lilies Are Cross-Pollinated?

Cross-pollinating daylilies is a rewarding journey that allows you to explore the world of daylily breeding and bring your artistic vision to life. To cross-pollinate two different flowers, take the pollen from one flower (referred to as the pollen parent plant) and apply it to the tip of the pistil on another flower (referred to as the hybrid). This process is not only fascinating but also rewarding, allowing you to develop your own signature blooms.

To hybridize lilies, you should cross-pollinate them to get seeds. Once you know what parts to look for, take pollen from one daylily and bring it to the stigma. Once it gets to the stigma, the pollen will travel to the ovary. One pollination technique involves removing the pollen from the anther with a brush and applying it to the stigma. After pollinating the flower, label the cross with the names of the parent plants and the date.

To ensure pollination, gently peel back the petals and remove the anthers to avoid pollen contamination. Use a pipe cleaner or cotton swab to generously cover the stigma with pollen from the pollen parent. Cover the pollinated stigma with a cap of aluminum foil to avoid contamination from other pollen. If lilies are not attracting enough pollinators, try mimicking pollinator activity by gently shaking the plant or using a small brush to transfer pollen.

Cross-breeding lilies begins with selecting two lily varieties, cultivars, or species. Then, one plant is selected to be the pod parent, or seed-bearing plant. Pollination is easy, and gardeners can ask why varietal lilies get dusty.