Camellia - Hybridisation

Create your own unique cross

Anyone can hybridise two different Camellia varieties when they are in flower to create a new hybrid (or rather lots of new hybrids) of your own.

You will need two select 2 different Camellias that you wish to try to make a hybrid from. They both need to be in flower. Because you need to bring the two flowers together to make the hybrid you will need to cut one flower from one of the plants. (We will call this one Cam-1) The other flower you need to leave on the tree. (This one is Cam-2)
 

1.Select Cam-1 flower, not fully openclick for larger image
1.Select Cam-1 flower, not yet fully open.
2. bring Cam-1 flower into the warm.click for larger image
2. Bring Cam-1 flower into the warm to encourage pollen production.
3. Remove petals to expose anthers.click for larger image
3. Remove petals to expose anthers.
4. Cam-1 with petals removed and anthers covered in pollenclick for larger image
4. Cam-1 with petals removed and anthers covered in pollen.
5. Select flower on tree, not fully open, Cam-2click for larger image
5. Select Cam-2, find a flower on tree, which is not fully open.
6.open flower to check for insectsclick for larger image
6. Open flower to check for insects, if present chose another flower.
7. Carefully remove anthers on Cam-2click for larger image
7. Carefully remove the anthers on Cam-2, leaving the stigma.
8. Dust the pollen from Cam-1 onto the stigma of Cam-2click for larger image
8. Dust the pollen from Cam-1 onto the stigma of Cam-2.
9. Remove all the petals on Cam-2 leaving the stigma covered in pollenclick for larger image
9. Remove all the petals on Cam-2 leaving the stigma covered in pollen.
10. Remove a few of the leaves from the stemclick for larger image
10. Remove a few of the leaves from the stem
11. Remove a few of the leaves from the stemclick for larger image
11. Remove a few of the leaves from the stem
12. Place bag carefully over, taking care to not damage stigmaclick for larger image
12. Place bag carefully over, taking care to not damage stigma
13. All bagged up, wait until Autumnclick for larger image
13. All bagged up, wait until Autumn.

When you look in October or November you might be lucky enough to find a seed pod, which when it splits you will see the black/brown seeds.
 

Read more about storing seeds and propagating them.



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