How to Grow Hybrid Plants: 7 Examples of Hybrid Plants

A hybrid plant is a cross-bred plant that is a result of gardeners cross-pollinating two or more unrelated plant species. Hybridization is done by using the male part of one plant’s flower (the stamen) to pollinate the female part of a different plant’s flower (the pistil), then harvesting the fruit that the pollinated flower produces and growing its seeds. The aim of plant hybridization is usually to marry the positive attributes of two-parent plants, but growers cannot control which traits will be passed on. However, hybrid plants tend to have more disease resistance, seasonal hardiness, and increased yield than their parent plants. Plant hybridization has also led to increased biodiversity. Many of the plants that you see today are hybridized in some form, whether they are cross-pollinated naturally or through human intervention. Here are some of the different varieties of hybrid plants that are the most popular. 1. __Stargazer lilies__: Stargazer lilies are a popular type of Eastern lily hybrids. It is a hybrid between lilium auratum and lilium speciosum. They have large bright blooms in pink, purple, red, and white, and they are hardy growers that can survive high temperatures. 2. __Sweet corn__: Most corn grown for eating in the US are hybrid breeds, including sweet corn. The hybrid sweet corn is easier for home gardeners to grow and is sweeter than traditional corn varieties. 3. __Olympia__: Olympia is a hybridized form of [spinach](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/all-about-the-spinach-superfood) with dark green leaves that grow vertically out of the soil. Olympia spinach is resistant to high temperatures and can grow well through spring, summer, and fall, making it hardier than pure spinach. 4. __Meyer lemon trees__: The Meyer lemon tree originated in China as a hybrid of the traditional lemon tree and the Mandarin orange tree. This makes Meyer lemons sweeter than classic lemons. Meyer lemon trees can grow in warmer climates than a regular lemon tree and can grow well in pots. 5. __Pomato__: The pomato plant is a cross between a tomato and a potato. The plant grows small cherry tomatoes on its above-ground vines and white potatoes below ground. 6. __Argemone mexicana__: The argemone Mexicana is a species of bright yellow poppy that originated in Mexico. It is an extremely hardy grower, tolerant of drought and poor soil. 7. __Sudachi yuzu__: Sudachi yuzu trees are a hybrid citrus plant that crosses [yuzu](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-yuzu-explained) with mandarin orange. The fruit has become a popular ingredient in Japanese and Korean cooking. If you’re interested in hybridizing your own plants, you can follow this step-by-step guide to figure out how to do so. 1. __Choose your male and female plants__. Once you've decided which plants you want to hybridize, you will need to choose which plant will act as the male and which the female in the cross-pollination. 2. __Remove the stamens from the female plants__. In order to prevent self-pollination, you will need to remove the stamens from your female plant. 3. __Cross-pollinate your plants__. Gather the pollen from the stamen of the male plant using a q-tip or cotton ball. Brush the pollen onto the female plant’s pistil. To prevent extra cross-pollination, cover your female plant in plastic or a transparent bag. 4. __Grow and harvest the fruit__. The fruit that grows from the cross-pollinated female plant will be the first hybrid variety. The resulting seeds from the fruit are called F1 hybrids (for Familial 1), and you can plant these seeds the following year to grow your first new plant. 5. __Experiment__. Successfully growing cross-pollinated plants can take years of experimentation to achieve the desired effect. Try pairing plants that have complementary colors or foliage that you like. The first person who successfully grows a new variety of hybrid plant owns the rights to it. Grow your own garden with Ron Finley, the self-described "Gangster Gardener." Get the [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com/) and learn how to cultivate fresh herbs and vegetables, keep your house plants alive, and use compost to make your community - and the world - a better place. Growing hybrid plants involves cross-breeding two different species to produce a new plant that blends the positive attributes of the original breeds. Read on for a guide on how to grow hybrid plants of your own.