A Variegated Clivia and a Self-Sterility Lesson

Clivia are largely self-sterile, which means pollinating a flower with its own pollen rarely produces seed. Successful breeding usually depends on crossing two genetically different plants. This article shares a young variegated Clivia from a California breeder, explains why a self-pollination attempt failed, and follows the reciprocal cross made to produce the next generation.

This plant came to me two years ago as an offset from a California breeder. For a plant this young, the blooms are close to perfect — well-formed florets on a strong, even head. The variegated foliage is just as much of a draw, and it holds its pattern well.

We learned a lesson last season: self-pollination didn't work. No seed set at all. As it turns out, that's the expected outcome rather than a mistake — Clivia are largely self-sterile, so a plant's own pollen generally won't produce viable seed. Crossing with a genetically different plant is the way forward.

So we crossed it with a blooming Monk (light variegation), both directions — using each plant as pod parent and pollen parent in turn. Reciprocal crosses like this are worth the extra effort, since which plant carries the seed can affect what the offspring inherit.

Now we wait. Even a successful cross yields only a handful of seeds per flower, so we're keeping expectations modest. Fingers crossed.

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