Cuttings (vegetative reproduction) produces plants that are EXACTLY like the parent. like the parent in every way genetics, flower shape, color, need for... or... no need for cross-polination etc etc etc.

Cloned plants (plants grown from cuttings of the same plant) are the same plant. It just happens to have two root systems or be at two different places at the same time.

Thanks. I understand that cuttings are clones. Was wondering:

- Does this mean that they can never pollinate their co-clones if the species is nominally interfertile? I had the impression that this is sometimes due to male and female parts maturing at different times, so might clones growing under slightly different conditions might pollinate each other?

- Could this explain why large numbers of plants bought together (e.g. my Rose-of-Sharon hedge) might be infertile? Because in that case, adding just one non-clone individual might make a big difference.

Thanks-

Chelydra

The first part of your last group of questions seems fairly hypothetical. If the reason that the plant was not self-fertile was due to non-overlapping male and female stages, and, this period could be adjusted enough by different conditions to brink these stages to overlap in different individuals, and, these individuals were brought together at the appropriate time, then sure, it would work. That's a lot of ifs and would be an unusual circumstance.

As to the second question, yes; a hedge made from non-self-fertile clones would be infertile. One appropriate pollen donor could really stir things up.

the presence of a polinator does NOT increase the number of flowers the color of flowers, the size of flowers or the duration flowers are on the shrub....... the only thing the presence of a polinator will do is to increse seed production!!!!!

Yiorges, I don't understand your point. I don't think anyone was thinking that a pollinator increasing the number of flowers, etc?