Pollination is the transfer of pollen (with male hormones) from the anthers of a flower to the stigma to create fertilization and sexual reproduction.

Types of Pollination

• Some flowers will develop seeds as a result of self-pollination, when pollen and pistil are from the same plant but different flowers.
• Many plants require cross-pollination, pollen and pistil must be from different plants.
• Yet other plants will self fertilize from the same flower.

The Need For Pollination

• Without pollination there would be no seeds or only sterile seeds.
• Fruit needs pollination so it can mature and grow.
• Farmers need pollination to produce crops.
• Insects and animals that are involved in pollination are rewarded by energy food in the form of nectar or pollen.

Specific Pollination Issues

• One of he rose flowers above will set a hip and the other wont. The pollinated flower has gone dark and the fertilization process has started. The lower flower still has yellow pollen and is awaiting pollination.
• Apples and Pears need to be pollinated by an appropriate partner of a different variety that blossoms at the same time. Read about the partners for each Apple
• Bananas are sterile and herbaceously propagated so may not need fertilisation but imagine a seedless Pomegranate or a nutless nut.
• Cross pollination of one plant with an unknown other will mean the seed may not be like either parent.

Hopefully that helps you to encourage pollinating insects and Bees in particular into your garden.

Once pollinated flowers move on to the next phase of there development and start to go over as flowers. One reason buds last longer as cut flowers than fully open flowers.

See also Pollination makes the world go around