How to Cross-pollinate Tulips

Cross pollination is the process of the pollen from one plant fertilizing a second plant. Tulips cross-pollinate naturally with the aid of pollinators such as birds, butterflies and bees. The pollen attaches to the bodies of the pollinators while the birds and insects feed on the flower's nectar. These pollinators then inadvertently transfer the pollen when visiting a second flower. Cross-pollinate tulip plants by hand when pollinators are not available or you desire a specific cross pollination to create desired traits in the new plants.

Shears or scissors
Paper bag
Tape
Bird net

Instructions

- 1
  Open the petals of the tulip to access the center of the receptor flower and clip the stamens. Remove the filaments with shears or scissors, or pull them by hand and discard them. The stamen is the combination of both the filaments and the anthers. They create a circle in the center of the flower around the pistil and hold the powdery pollen.
- 2
  Snip the stamens from the donor flower when the pollen is mature and easily transfers from the anthers to your finger when you touch them.
- 3
  Brush the anther on the end of the stamen from the donor flower gently across the pistil of the receptive flower until the pistil dries and will accept no further pollen. The pistil rises from the center of the tulip, has a sticky tip and is wider in diameter than the stamens.
- 4
  Discard the used stamens and place a small paper bag over the fertilized bloom to protect the flower from interference from natural pollinators. Tape the bag closed over the flower's stem, and carefully poke a few holes in the top of the bag for air flow.
- 5
  Remove the paper bag after a few days, when the flower begins to wilt and die, and install a bird net over the area to protect the developing seeds.

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