How to Cross Pollinate Marigolds

The mass of petals can make the reproductive organs of a marigold difficult to access.

Marigolds are hermaphrodite flowers, which means that each flower has both male and female organs. When cross-pollinating marigolds, you must first choose a receptor flower and a donor flower and designate these flowers as male and female. Many marigolds are hybrids, so each flower will likely have hidden traits that can show in the plants cultivated from the seeds. Cross-pollinate several flowers to increase your chances of successfully propagating the traits you desire.

Things You'll Need

• Small paintbrush

Instructions

1. Pluck the pistil from the donor flower. The pistil is the female organ in the center of the flower. Depending on the type of marigold, the flower may have several pistils in the center of several male stamens.

2. Cut the stamens from the receptor flower so that the pollen from the flower cannot pollinate itself.

3. Brush a small paintbrush against the anthers on the tips of the stamens of the donor flower. The anthers open when they are mature and the pollen appears dusty, easily releasing from the anthers.

4. Brush the paintbrush onto the mature stigma in the center of the receptor flower. The stigma feels sticky when it is mature and ready to receive the pollen. The pollen from the paintbrush should stick to the stigma to begin the fertilization process.

References

• Biology of Plants; Pollination; 2009
• College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois; Plant Breeding as a Hobby; J.D. Butler, et al.