Cross-pollination is a natural occurrence which often results in a hybrid plant. Many species of wildflower and other flowering plants cross-pollinate and, if you look closely enough, you may see evidence of cross-pollination in your own garden at home.

Which flowers do cross pollination?

Some fun flowers to cross pollinate include nasturtiums, petunias, poppies, snapdragons, violas, and zinnias. Read plant and seed labels to find out whether your plants are open-pollinated or hybrid. Open-pollinated flowers are good to use for cross-pollination projects, but hybrid flowers are not.

Can plants cross pollinate themselves?

Self-pollinating plants can produce one or more flowers that can pollinate themselves or each other. Cross-pollination occurs when pollen from a plant fertilizes a flower from another plant that is the same species but a different variety — or, on more rare occasions, a different but related species.