HYBRIDIZING 101
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HYBRIDIZE IRIS
Lift the small petal between the Standard and Fall to find the Male pollen-bearing Stamen. Yellow arrow points to it. Grasp the stem of the Stamen with hemostats and break it off. *See NOTES below. 
The yellow arrow points to the Female Stigma. On Iris, it's the "beard". 
Gently brush the Male Stamen across the Female Stigma to deposit the pollen. Pollen is often white on Iris. *See NOTES below. 
If successful, the seed pod will form in about a week. Allow pod to ripen. It will dry and turn brown, and begin to split. Plant the seeds right away, or air-dry thoroughly to store. *See NOTES below. |
HYBRIDIZE DAYLILY
The blue arrow points to the Male pollen-bearing Stamen. The pollen will be very fluffy and yellow. The pink arrow shows the Female Stigma. There is a tri-cornered tip. *See NOTES below. |
Break off a Stamen and brush across the Stigma. You'll see the pollen stuck to the end of the Stigma. *See NOTES below. |
The green pod is seen shortly after successful pollenation. Allow to dry and begin to split before harvesting the seeds. They will be shiny black. Plant right away, or air-dry thoroughly to store. *See NOTES below. |
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* NOTES
* Tweezers and/or hemostats are handy tools. * Hybridizing is best done in the morning after pollen has dried and become fluffy. * Iris flowers last more than a day, but Daylilies only last one day, so you need to do them when they bloom. * Some flowers may not produce pollen. You'll be able to see the pollen easily. If sterile, the Stamen will be smooth. If the cultivar you wish to use is sterile, try again on another bloom. Sometimes a plant will produce viable parts on another flower. * Some highly bred cultivars may not produce viable male or female parts. They will be stunted or non-existent. Again, try later when it blooms again to see if you can successfully pollenate. * Tie a string or other light-weight marker around the base of the flower you pollenated. This is so you can tell the one YOU did. Be sure and jot down which cultivars you used. Venetian blind slats make nice tags. Cut to short length, punch a hole for tie, and write with permanent marker. * To sow, cover seed lightly, about a 1/4 inch. Germination should occur within 2-4 wks. * If you choose to store for later, make sure the seeds are very dry. Seal in an air-tight container and store in cool, dark place. Snack-size baggies are just right for storage, and can be labeled easily. * Then you wait. You might have to wait a couple seasons to see your results. Daylilies are more likely to produce flowers in the 2nd year. Iris may take up to 3 yrs. |
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