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What exactly does a 'sterile' plant mean ?
Up_the_garden _path
Posts: 218
in Plants
I have seen on this forum a few times people mention 'sterile'plants and I an unsure what this means. Can anyone explain this.
Thanks 
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In the usage you refer to, it means that the plant does not produce seeds. It therefore needs to be propagated by cuttings/layering/division etc.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Thank you Dovefromabove. Is the plant still attractive to bees and other insects ?
I understand that most of them still produce nectar so are attractive to bees etc.
I think some of the problems arise from the complexity of some flower forms which prevent the bees accessing the nectar, and not whether or not the plant is sterile.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Thank you
Some plant breeders sell plants that either do not have seeds, or from which the seeds will not germinate, so as to keep the plant their property - preventing gardeners from propagating it in that way. Some very double flowers do not allow bees or other insects to access any nectar they may have - another reason I rarely if ever grow doubled flowers.
Yes, proprietary plants - created, owned and effectively patented by commercial organisations - usually have sterile seeds to prevent regrowing. Years ago Brocollini - like a miniature brocolli with thin stems and leaves - was introduced into Australia. Its production was licensed to an Australian company by its American commercial "owner" so they were the only source in Australia. You could be prosecuted for even trying to reproduce it.
Don't think Bowles Mauve is a proprietory plant - in fact I'm sure it's not, it's been around for ages, well before plant breeders' rights took off to this extent. Apparently there are some strains of BM that do set seed, but they won't come true to the parent plant - however you may find a variation that will become as famous and well-loved as it's parent.
http://www.plant-world-seeds.com/store/view_seed_item/2455?actionName=flower_seed_categories&itemname=ERYSIMUM+%27BOWLES+BABIES%27
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Anyone know what the biology is of "sterile" purple loosetrife, that doesn't remain sterile?