The term pollinizer is easy to confuse with pollinator, and many people misuse the terms. A pollinizer is a plant, while a pollinator is an animal, usually an insect. Both are important in producing fruit on trees, vegetable plants, and more.
The definition of a pollinizer is simple: it is a plant that provides pollen. Some plants provide their own pollen to fertilize flowers and set fruit. Others need a second plant, a pollinizer, to provide the pollen for reproduction.
A pollinizer can be a different variety of the same species. It can also be the male version of a dioecious species (male and female reproductive organs in separate flowers on separate plants). For instance, holly plants are either male or female. The female plants will only produce the characteristic red berries if a male plant is nearby to provide pollen and act as a pollinizer.
Pollinizers and pollinators are not the same, although the terms are often confused. While a pollinizer is always a plant that provides pollen, a pollinator’s job is to is transfer pollen. Honey bees are common pollinators. Lesser-known pollinators include flies, birds, bats, and moths.
A pollinator visits a flower to feed. While feeding, pollen sticks to their legs or bodies. When they move to another flower to feed, they leave some of the pollen behind and pick up more, transferring it from flower to flower and plant to plant.
To get fruit on a plant, you need pollination. Pollination often requires pollinators to transfer pollen. Some plants also require pollinizers, different varieties of plants nearby. When all of these elements come together, you get a good harvest.
Some plants are self-fertile, or can self-pollinate. They have evolved flowers that contain all the necessary
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