Male vs Female vs Sterile Trees: Pros & Cons

Trees with seeds and fruit have their benefits - and problems - that go along with them. Luckily, there are so many options available these days that it can be confusing when hearing all the various terminology that goes with plant options.

So what’s the difference between all these new types of trees and shrubs?

Botanical Terminology - Types of Plant Gender
The Pros and Cons

Botanical Terminology - Types of Plant Gender

In the world of plants, anything goes! Ma Nature regularly makes up rules, breaks them, remakes them, and then changes her mind once again. So plants have every possibility of reproduction available because of how ‘stuck’ in one place they are! So they, of course, had to get creative!

Monoecious

Monoecious plants have separate male flowers and female flowers on the same plant. The term "monoecious" is literally "one house". Squash, for example, has male flowers and female flowers on the same plant.

Dioecious

These plants have male flowers on one plant and female flowers on another. Some Holly, Ash trees, Kentucky Coffeetrees, and Ginkgo trees are good examples. You need a male plant nearby to pollinate your female plants in order to see any fruit on the female plants.

Perfect Flowers

Hermaphroditic flowers have both male and female structures within each individual flower, which are known as ‘perfect’. Each bloom can potentially pollinate itself without another flower. Bees or insects help distribute the pollen, and sometimes even wind.

Perfect flowers can either be self-fertile or cross-pollinated. Cross-pollination needs another of the same plant nearby, or a slightly different variation of that plant. For instance, a Royal Ann Cherry Tree needs a Van, Stella, or a Black Tartarian Cherry tree nearby to pollinate it and set fruit. Bees are happy to visit both flowers, and pollination occurs.

Nature's curveball - In a process called agamospermy, a plant egg can mature into a seed without being pollinated at all! The offspring is genetically identical to the parent plant.

Sterile and Seedless Plants

Sterile and seedless plants are hybrid cultivars that have been bred not to produce seed at all. This creates a triploid, like seedless watermelons and seedless grapes for instance. The genetics have been tweaked within these plants to make them entirely seedless or sterile.

A normal diploid (like you and I) has two complete sets of chromosomes - one from each parent. White a triploid plant has three sets of chromosomes and retains many desirable characteristics, including increased vigor; larger flowers, or a larger fruit set.

Then there are Triploids or Polyploidy, which, as the name suggests, have three or more sets of chromosomes.

Seedless watermelons are triploid, which causes them to be seedless. These seeds are created by crossing a normal diploid as the pollinator with a tetraploid (Four sets of chromosomes) parent. Each parent contributes half its respective chromosomes, resulting in one from the diploid parent and two from the tetraploid parent. Sounds confusing, but luckily the scientists have it all figured out, and you don’t have to worry about seeds while munching on your favorite summertime fruit!

Some plants and animals are bred (or have genetic abnormalities) and can become Polyploids that contain three, five, or some other odd number of chromosomes.

A sterile perennial Geranium we love is Rozanne, which tries so hard to produce seed that it simply keeps on producing flowers all season long in its quest of trying to make seed.

Other Oddities

Then there are flowers like those on the Avocado tree, which are perfect flowers, but they don’t function at the same time! The flowers are either male or female in the morning and then become the opposite later on or the next day. This means Avocado trees require a Type A and Type B tree planted in close proximity to increase pollination chances.

The Giant Amazon Water Lily (Victoria amazonica) is another unusual, perfect flower that has evolved a unique process of pollinating itself. Called co-sexual, the flowers open white in the evening, and are fragrant and warmer (called thermogenesis) than the surrounding male flowers. These close for the night, trapping insects inside. In the morning, the flowers become female and open, and pollen gets distributed while the insect searches for a way out. Finally, the beetle is released to find another flower and gets trapped to start it all over again.

Other plants can even change their sex based on the availability of other plants in the area, or based on their age and their height/sun availability.

Lastly, plants like non-flowering Mosses, Liverworts, Hornworts, Lycophytes, and Ferns dispense with flowers entirely and reproduce by spores.

The Pros and Cons

There are always upsides and downsides to everything, and toying with the genetics of plants has come under scrutiny these days. Plausible, because everything in our environment does eventually affect us.

So let's break down the pros and cons of all these types of plants!

Perfect and Female Plants

By planting trees, shrubs, and plants with perfect flowers, or a female plant with a male nearby, you then enjoy nuts, seeds, and fruit! When this comes to the perfect flowers of our favorite fruit trees like Grain, Nut trees, Apples, Pears, most Berries, and Grapes, having fruit is a great thing! Most of the world is fed on these wonderful plants! Fruit and seeds of these plants also feed birds and other wildlife.

But these fruits do have seeds, and those seeds do want to grow. Good if you are propagating and expanding your garden, but bad when those seeds come up everywhere and get into trouble. Like some plants that have become invasive in some areas.

If we don't want the fruit or seeds of the plants that produce them, there are some other options to consider. Trees that are not as messy are perfect for more urban landscapes.

Pros and Cons of Male Trees

Male-only trees solve the problem with fruit drop and seed dispersal. No fruit means clean driveways and patios, no stains on sidewalks and deck furniture, and you don’t have to worry about birds eating the fruit and spreading their droppings and those seeds far and wide. Planting male trees or sterile trees near your home means not having the mess in your gutters or having to rake up the mess beneath. These plants are also not considered invasive in any area.

The problem with male-only trees, though, is that they still produce flowers - flowers chock full of pollen! Great for Bees and pollen-eating insects, but bad for our noses! Those who suffer from allergies are noticing an increase in their symptoms and increased frequency of pollen-related issues now that there are more male trees in the neighborhood!

Pros and Cons of Sterile/Seedless Plants

From an environmental aspect, having sterile plants reduces the chances of spreading invasive plants around where they are not native, and choking out local flora. Not necessarily meaning fruitless, it simply means the fruit won’t have viable seeds or any seeds at all. In fact, food harvest and fruit size can be increased in sterile plants. Plus, sterile plants can be shipped into areas where their seeded versions cannot due to invasive concerns.

However, by planting these in areas where they are not indigenous, local pollinators and native insects often don’t recognize them as a food source. Good if you are trying to reduce pest damage, bad if you are trying to feed the bees, butterflies, and their larvae. Also, having sterile plants means your feathered friends go hungry.

Most of the issues with sterile plants that won’t produce fruit come from those who think that changing the genetic structure of these plants (especially those we eat) will ultimately result in changes to our own DNA. While this may seem like woo-woo science, the increase in cancers, behavioral disorders, and the increase in general health issues around the world may just give you some new, literal food for thought. Remember too that many selections of plants are simply crosses of 2 different plants, or naturally occurring in nature, and they are not genetically modified.

The other concern is food sustainability and maintaining native plants and landscape cultivars. With reduced genetic diversity and the ability to save seeds for planting next year, having a landscape full of sterile plants leaves us hanging should they die. Entire crops can be taken out with no way of replacing them with their seeds.

Weighing Your Options

So there’s the good, the bad, and the ugly side to plant gender and how it affects us and our environment. There are benefits and worries for all sides of bringing new and exciting plants to every corner and environment in the US.

So take a look at your options and see what is available before making a decision when landscaping. Alternatives are increasingly easier to find! Look into more careful site selection and your personal needs when choosing plants for your landscape!

Low prices, massed-produced crops, and pretty faces have hidden downsides lurking in their roots, so educate yourself before buying! As always, Nature Hills is here to help with our knowledgeable staff, informative #ProPlantTips and Garden Blog, and our innovative ecosystem protecting Plant Sentry™ that ensures compliance with all Federal Agricultural laws and regulations concerning the shipment of plants from Nature Hills in 48 states.

We are committed to protecting you and your landscape with quality-grown plants that set your garden apart from the rest while ensuring it's safe for all!

Happy Planting!

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I tell if a tree is male, female, or sterile when buying it from a nursery?

Most nurseries clearly label dioecious trees (those with separate male and female plants) with their gender designation, such as "Ginkgo biloba 'Male'" or "Holly 'Blue Princess' (Female)." For sterile or seedless varieties, look for cultivar names that often include terms like "Seedless," "Fruitless," or specific sterile cultivar names like Honeylocust 'Shademaster.' If the plant tag doesn't specify gender or sterility, ask your nursery staff directly, as they should know whether the variety produces fruit, needs a pollinator, or is sterile. Always verify this information before purchasing, especially if you're trying to avoid messy fruit drop or need specific male/female pairs for fruit production.

What are the main pros and cons of planting male trees in my landscape?

Pros: Male trees produce no fruit or seeds, eliminating messy cleanup, pest attraction, and staining issues on patios and walkways. They typically require less maintenance since you won't need to rake fallen fruit or deal with volunteer seedlings sprouting throughout your landscape. Cons: Male trees cannot produce fruit for harvest and may contribute to higher pollen levels during spring blooming season, which can aggravate allergies. Choose male cultivars of messy-fruited species like Ginkgo ('Autumn Gold') or Ash trees if you want the ornamental benefits without the cleanup hassles.

Will female trees create a mess with fruit drop, and how do I avoid it?

Yes, female trees will produce fruit that eventually drops and creates cleanup work in your landscape. The amount of mess depends on the tree species - female Ginkgo trees drop particularly smelly fruit in fall, while female Holly trees produce smaller berries that are less problematic. To avoid fruit drop entirely, choose male cultivars of dioecious trees (like male Ginkgo or Ash varieties) or select sterile/seedless cultivars when available. Plant male trees at least 20-30 feet from female trees if you want to prevent fruit formation on existing female specimens.

Do sterile or seedless trees produce any fruit at all, or are they completely mess-free?

Sterile and seedless trees typically produce little to no fruit, making them virtually mess-free options for landscapes where fallen fruit cleanup is a concern. Some sterile cultivars may produce small, aborted fruits that drop early in the season, but these are minimal compared to fertile varieties. Popular examples include sterile Bradford Pears and seedless Honey Locust cultivars that eliminate the pod mess while maintaining ornamental value. Choose sterile varieties if you want the aesthetic benefits of flowering trees without the maintenance hassle of fruit cleanup.

Should I plant male trees near my house to prevent seeds in gutters and on patios?

Male trees won't produce seeds or fruit, making them excellent choices for preventing gutter clogs and messy patios. However, if you have female trees of the same species within 100-200 feet, male trees will actually increase seed production by providing pollen for fertilization. For truly mess-free landscaping near structures, choose sterile or seedless cultivars instead of relying solely on male trees. Plant male trees only when you specifically want to pollinate nearby females or when no female counterparts exist in your immediate area.

Are male trees better for reducing invasive species spread compared to female ones?

Yes, male trees are significantly better for preventing invasive species spread since they cannot produce seeds that birds and wildlife disperse to natural areas. Female trees of invasive species like Norway Maple and Tree of Heaven create thousands of viable seeds annually that establish new colonies in forests and parks. Male cultivars of potentially problematic species such as Ginkgo, Ash, and Kentucky Coffeetree eliminate this reproduction risk entirely. Choose male selections when planting species known for aggressive self-seeding in your hardiness zone.

How do I know if my existing tree is male or female before it starts producing flowers or fruit?

Identifying tree gender before flowering requires checking plant tags, nursery records, or consulting with your local extension office, as most young trees show no visible gender characteristics until maturity (typically 5-15 years depending on species). For dioecious trees like Ginkgo, Holly, or Ash, you'll need to wait for the first flowers or fruit to appear, or have the tree professionally identified through leaf and bark characteristics. Contact your certified arborist or extension service with photos of your tree's leaves, bark, and overall shape for the most accurate identification.

What pollinators does a female tree need nearby, and do I have to plant a male tree too?

Female dioecious trees require a male tree of the same species planted within 50-100 feet to produce fruit, as the male provides the necessary pollen. Bees, other insects, and wind serve as the primary pollinators that transfer pollen from male flowers to female flowers. Examples include Holly, Ash, Kentucky Coffeetree, and Ginkgo trees where both sexes are needed for fruit production. Plant one male tree for every 3-6 female trees to ensure adequate pollination coverage in your landscape.

Will planting only male trees increase pollen allergies in my yard?

Yes, planting only male trees can significantly increase pollen allergies in your yard since male trees produce abundant pollen without any female trees nearby to capture it. Wind-pollinated species like male Ash, Ginkgo, and Kentucky Coffeetree are particularly problematic for allergy sufferers during their spring blooming periods. For allergy-prone areas, choose female trees (which produce little to no pollen) or sterile cultivars that eliminate both pollen production and messy fruit drop.

Are sterile trees safe to plant in areas where seeded versions are considered invasive?

Yes, sterile cultivars are an excellent solution for planting species that have invasive seeded versions in your area. These trees provide all the ornamental benefits like shade, fall color, and attractive form without producing viable seeds that can spread into natural areas. Popular examples include sterile Callery pears like 'Chanticleer' and seedless honey locusts such as 'Shademaster'. Check with your local extension office to confirm which sterile varieties are recommended as non-invasive alternatives in your specific zone.

The Pros and Cons of Male, Female, and Sterile Trees