Tropicals & Tender Perennials: Pollinating, 1 by Clare_CA

Clare_CA wrote:
dbrooks, I think the plumeria flower has both male and female sexual parts within one flower. I think you would have to cut open the flower and carefully remove the pollen first, making sure that none is spilled.

You are right about the hay. A good jarring of an inflo will even do the trick if one is just interested in seeds. The only thing is that, because of the large number of genes, a plumeria flower can look totally different from its parents so you really could only be sure of the seedpod parent unless you know that your hand-pollination technique was successful. You are right that it would be a bummer to wait 3-5 years just to get a white with a yellow center or a near duplicate of the parent plant.

I have 40 seedlings that are three-and-a-half years old. Ten of them have bloomed so far so I need the other 30 to bloom this summer. Some will be stubborn and will make me wait until they are four-and-a-half years old or five years old. It is a waiting game with seedlings. I've had some great-looking flowers and some white with yellow centers too. I wish I could be more help to you about pollination. It is just not an area that I am familiar with.