Like most living organisms, many people wonder, do trees have genders?
It’s important to understand Tree sexes, because it forms an important part of reproduction, which means that your harvest can be impacted or your landscaping can benefit or suffer from the type of reproduction system a specific type of trees has.
For example, did you know that some trees won’t produce fruit unless there’s another species nearby to pollinate the flowers?
This is common with many types of apple trees, but have you also wondered if you can have a tree that doesn’t distribute thousands of inedible berries and nuts that you have to clean up each year?
You can’t really tell by looking at the tree itself, but some plant characteristics might be easy to identify in specific seasons.
So the answer to the question, do trees have genders, is a complicated one.
This complete guide explains the reproductive practices of trees, and how to tell which trees need another nearby to propagate naturally.
Are Trees Male and Female?
Do trees have genders is an easy question to answer…yes, their parts have genders…but it’s not that simple.
Trees actually have four reproductive systems so they can make more trees no matter the species and the environment, and this can vary widely among tree types and the flowers or fruits that they grow.
Trees are neither male nor female, they’re more gender neutral. Each species is designed to reproduce as efficiently as possible, and while some trees share similar characteristics, the way they reproduce might be very different.
This interdependent system benefits birds, insects, and mammals, and guarantees the continuation of their species.
Pollen and seeds, growing within flowers or fruits, are essentially the two components that could be classed as male and female parts of a tree and have to be brought together for pollination/fertilization.
The method of transportation can occur by a puff of wind, on the fine hairs on bees’ knees, or by the same flower itself.
Are There Male and Female Trees? Do Trees Have Genders?
There are four methods of pollination that trees can use. Different species use various (and sometimes more than one) method.
These methods of pollination are worth knowing since what trees you plant, and where you plant them, can determine the level of success of the harvests or blooms you have toiled to achieve.
Do trees have genders? Do they have sexes?1 No, but they do have a distinctive gender parts growing from them.
Let’s break it down.
Cosexual
This type of tree will have flowers or cones with both male and female reproductive parts in the same plant. For example, a single flower on this type of tree would have a male part called the anther, and a female part called a pistil.
The anther would pollinate the seed called the pistil which would then either be dispersed by insects or the wind.
Examples of trees that are cosexual (hermaphroditic) are:
- Cherry Tree
- Magnolia Tree
- American Elm Tree
- Apple Tree
- Pear Tree
- Dogwood Tree
Monoecious
This means that there are once again male and female parts present on the tree but in this case, they are in two separate flowers or fruits. One flower will have a female part and close by another flower can have the pollen of the male.
Pollination generally occurs by wind dispersal but is no less effective than relying solely on insects or birds.
Examples of monoecious tree are:
- Redwood Tree
- Oak Tree
- Walnut Tree
- Pecan Tree
- Cedar Tree
- Fir Tree
Dioecious
These types of trees have one or the other, not both. They either have a flower or fruit with just the female pistil on the entire tree or a flower with just the male anther.
They rely on both wind and mainly insects for pollination and, of course, having a member of the opposite sex close by.
Trees that are dioecious are:
- Cottonwood Tree
- Willow Tree
- Holly Tree
- Ginkgo Tree
- Aspen Tree
- Apple Tree
Polygamous
This is where it gets a bit complicated as a polygamodioecious tree has a bit of everything as if it’s covering all the bases.
On the same tree, there can be cosexual flowers, as well as individual Monoecious sexed male and female flowers.
Examples of these types of trees are:
- Ash Tree
- Mulberry Tree
- The Red Maple Tree
- Banana Tree
- Mango Tree
- Sumac Tree
Of the 60,000 species of trees in the world, most of them are cosexual, like dandelions,7 for example.
Worldwide the ratio is
75% of the trees are cosexual
10% of the trees are monoecious
5% of the trees are dioecious
10% of the trees are polygamous
But why should it matter if the trees in your backyard are cosexual, monoecious, dioecious, or polygamous? And why is it important which species you choose?
Let’s have a look at a few of them to help you out with the selection process.
Tree Name | Cosexual | Monoecious | Dioecious | Polygamous |
Basswood Tree | Male and Female Parts on the Same Tree in Flower and Fruit | |||
Cherry Blossom Tree) | Male and Female Parts on the Same Tree in Flower and Fruit | |||
Japanese Bigleaf Magnolia | Both Male and Female Parts on a Single Flower | |||
Tupelo Tree | Both Cosexual and Monoecious | |||
Banyan Tree | Male and Female Parts on the Same Tree in Flower and Fruit | Flower and Either Male or Female on One Tree | ||
Cherry Tree | Flower and Either Male or Female on One Tree | |||
Black Gum Tree | Both Cosexual and Monoecious | |||
Sycamore Tree | Male and Female Parts on the Same Tree in Flower and Fruit |
Tree Name | Cosexual | Monoecious | Dioecious | Polygamous |
Mulberry Tree | Male and Female Parts on the Same Tree in Flower and Fruit | Flower and Either Male or Female on One Tree | ||
Dogwood Tree | Both Male and Female Parts on a Single Flower | |||
Ash Tree | Both Cosexual and Monoecious | |||
Pear Tree | Both Male and Female Parts on a Single Flower | |||
Persimmon Tree | Flower and Either Male or Female on One Tree | |||
Lemon Tree | Male and Female Parts on the Same Tree in Flower and Fruit | |||
Locust Tree | Both Cosexual and Monoecious | |||
Apple Tree | Both Male and Female Parts on a Single Flower |
Tree Name | Cosexual | Monoecious | Dioecious | Polygamous |
Birch Tree | Male and Female Parts on the Same Tree in Flower and Fruit | |||
Buckthorn Tree | Flower and Either Male or Female on One Tree | |||
Sumac Tree | Both Cosexual and Monoecious | |||
Cypress Tree | Male and Female Parts on the Same Tree in Flower and Fruit | |||
Maple Tree | Male and Female Parts on the Same Tree in Flower and Fruit | Flower and Either Male or Female on One Tree | ||
American Elm Tree | Both Male and Female Parts on a Single Flower | |||
Pink Magnolia Tree | Male and Female Parts on the Same Tree in Flower and Fruit | |||
Mango Tree | Both Cosexual and Monoecious |
Tree Name | Cosexual | Monoecious | Dioecious | Polygamous |
Sweet Bay Magnolia Tree | Flower and Either Male or Female on One Tree | |||
Chocolate Mimosa Tree | Male and Female Parts on the Same Tree in Flower and Fruit | Flower and Either Male or Female on One Tree | ||
Southern Magnolia Tree | Both Male and Female Parts on a Single Flower | Male and Female Parts on the Same Tree in Flower and Fruit | ||
Desert Willow Tree | Flower and Either Male or Female on One Tree | |||
Birdcatcher Tree | Both Male and Female Parts on a Single Flower | Both Cosexual and Monoecious | ||
Hazelnut Tree | Male and Female Parts on the Same Tree in Flower and Fruit | |||
Eastern Cottonwood Tree | Flower and Either Male or Female on One Tree | |||
Large-Leafed Dogwood | Both Male and Female Parts on a Single Flower |
Tree Name | Cosexual | Monoecious | Dioecious | Polygamous |
Narrowleaf Cottonwood | Flower and Either Male or Female on One Tree | |||
Spicebush Tree | Both Cosexual and Monoecious | |||
Cashew Tree | Flower and Either Male or Female on One Tree | |||
Umbrella Tree | Male and Female Parts on the Same Tree in Flower and Fruit | |||
Apricot Tree | Both Cosexual and Monoecious | |||
Aniseed Tree | Both Male and Female Parts on a Single Flower | Flower and Either Male or Female on One Tree | ||
Poplar Tree | ||||
Red Oak Tree | Male and Female Parts on the Same Tree in Flower and Fruit |
Tree Name | Cosexual | Monoecious | Dioecious | Polygamous |
Lavender Tree | Male and Female Parts on the Same Tree in Flower and Fruit | |||
Kumquat Tree | Male and Female Parts on the Same Tree in Flower and Fruit | Flower and Either Male or Female on One Tree | ||
Mulberry Tree | Both Cosexual and Monoecious | |||
Japanese Maple | Both Male and Female Parts on a Single Flower | |||
Camphor Tree | Male and Female Parts on the Same Tree in Flower and Fruit | |||
Aspen Tree | Flower and Either Male or Female on One Tree | |||
White Oak Tree | Male and Female Parts on the Same Tree in Flower and Fruit | |||
Fig Tree | Both Cosexual and Monoecious |
Tree Name | Cosexual | Monoecious | Dioecious | Polygamous |
Pinyon Pine Tree | Both Male and Female Parts on a Single Flower | Male and Female Parts on the Same Tree in Flower and Fruit | ||
Beech Tree | Male and Female Parts on the Same Tree in Flower and Fruit | |||
Purple Weeping Willow Tree | Flower and Either Male or Female on One Tree | |||
Black Walnut Tree | Male and Female Parts on the Same Tree in Flower and Fruit | |||
Papaya Tree | Both Cosexual and Monoecious | |||
Angelica Tree | Both Male and Female Parts on a Single Flower | |||
Dappled Willow | Flower and Either Male or Female on One Tree | |||
Hibiscus Tree | Male and Female Parts on the Same Tree in Flower and Fruit |
Tree Name | Cosexual | Monoecious | Dioecious | Polygamous |
Hickory Tree | Male and Female Parts on the Same Tree in Flower and Fruit | |||
Red Maple Tree | Flower and Either Male or Female on One Tree | Both Cosexual and Monoecious | ||
Acacia Tree | Both Male and Female Parts on a Single Flower | |||
Avocado Tree | Both Male and Female Parts on a Single Flower | |||
Blue Java Banana Tree | Male and Female Parts on the Same Tree in Flower and Fruit | |||
Blue Pine Tree | Male and Female Parts on the Same Tree in Flower and Fruit | |||
Olive Tree | Both Male and Female Parts on a Single Flower | |||
Blue Arrow Juniper | Flower and Either Male or Female on One Tree |
Tree Name | Cosexual | Monoecious | Dioecious | Polygamous |
Honeylocust Tree | Both Cosexual and Monoecious | |||
Weeping White Spruce | Male and Female Parts on the Same Tree in Flower and Fruit | |||
Dwarf Weeping Willow Tree | Flower and Either Male or Female on One Tree | |||
Pink Willow Tree | Flower and Either Male or Female on One Tree |
Can Trees Be Male or Female?
Trees may not have genders but they need to have the ability to procreate, to make a little tree from a big tree.
The Earth is basically an interconnected bio-system that functions through re-birth, inter dependability, and diversity. And just like the human race, trees need both male and female parts for reproduction.
When designing a landscape, a gardener will select what trees to plant not just based on their looks but in such a way that they complement each other. For a tree to consistently bear healthy fruits and flowers, it either needs to be close to its own species for pollination or have the capacity to self-pollinate.3
If the trees to be planted are either male or female, dioecious, it is always more beneficial to have the tree’s sexes flowers be more female than male as the male pollen will travel further afield than the female seeds and fertilize more trees.
So, the question of do trees have genders is good to know in regard to the male and female plants blooming on their branches. When the plants begin to start flowering, it’s possible to determine the difference between male and female plant by carefully watching as the flower opens whether it contains a pistil, anthers, or both before it is permanently transplanted into the soil.
Armed with this information, a proper landscape design can be planned, but if it is just a single tree then it will help with the yearly blossoming if the tree is ideally cosexual or polygamous.
Male vs Female Plant: Why Do Plants Have Genders?
Now that the question do trees have sexes has been answered, the same question has to be asked, do plants have genders?
In the kingdom of the plants, the reproduction process is similar to trees as there is both a male and female relationship. This occurs in the form of flowering plants called angiosperms, the males with the pollen, and the female plants with the ovaries or ovules, called gymnosperms.
Most plants, more than 80% of the species in the world, are cosexual or monoecious.
In fact, most fruits and vegetables fall into these categories.
Plant Name | Cosexual | Monoecious | Dioecious | Polygamous |
Cucumber | Male and Female Parts on the Same Tree in Flower and Fruit | |||
Roses | Both Male and Female Parts on a Single Flower | |||
Forget-Me-Nots | Both Cosexual and Monoecious | |||
Goat Willow | Flower and Either Male or Female on One Tree | |||
Squash | Male and Female Parts on the Same Tree in Flower and Fruit | Flower and Either Male or Female on One Tree | ||
Seaberry | Flower and Either Male or Female on One Tree |
Plant Name | Cosexual | Monoecious | Dioecious | Polygamous |
Melon | Male and Female Parts on the Same Tree in Flower and Fruit | |||
Buttercups | Both Cosexual and Monoecious | |||
Daisies | Both Male and Female Parts on a Single Flower | |||
Kiwi | Flower and Either Male or Female on One Tree | |||
Corn | Male and Female Parts on the Same Tree in Flower and Fruit | |||
Horse Chestnut | Both Male and Female Parts on a Single Flower | Male and Female Parts on the Same Tree in Flower and Fruit |
Plant Name | Cosexual | Monoecious | Dioecious | Polygamous |
Fig | Male and Female Parts on the Same Tree in Flower and Fruit | |||
Spinach | Flower and Either Male or Female on One Tree | |||
Northern Hackberry | Male and Female Parts on the Same Tree in Flower and Fruit | Both Cosexual and Monoecious | ||
Pumpkins | Male and Female Parts on the Same Tree in Flower and Fruit | |||
Aubergine | Both Male and Female Parts on a Single Flower | |||
Cloudberries | Flower and Either Male or Female on One Tree |
Plant Name | Cosexual | Monoecious | Dioecious | Polygamous |
Oil Palm | Male and Female Parts on the Same Tree in Flower and Fruit | |||
Bell Pepper | Both Male and Female Parts on a Single Flower | |||
Lemon Grass | Both Cosexual and Monoecious | |||
Asparagus | Flower and Either Male or Female on One Tree | |||
Strawberries | Both Male and Female Parts on a Single Flower | |||
Courgette | Male and Female Parts on the Same Tree in Flower and Fruit |
Plant Name | Cosexual | Monoecious | Dioecious | Polygamous |
Sorghums | Both Cosexual and Monoecious | |||
Yams | Flower and Either Male or Female on One Tree | |||
Peas | Both Male and Female Parts on a Single Flower | |||
Parsnips | Both Male and Female Parts on a Single Flower | Both Cosexual and Monoecious | ||
Mimosa | Male and Female Parts on the Same Tree in Flower and Fruit | |||
Skimmia | Flower and Either Male or Female on One Tree |
Without proper pollination, plants will not flower regularly and in some instances will simply not bear fruit. But don’t blame the birds and the bees.5
The chances of successful pollination will be decreased significantly if in your garden there are only male dioecious plants.
All female trees have a better chance of being fertilized as just one male dioecious plant has the capability of pollinating numerous female plants, but not vice versa.
Always choose carefully the floral and vegetable arrangements when landscape planning, or consider planting other trees or fauna of the same species so the fruits and flowers blossom when they are supposed to. There’s nothing worse than nurturing a vast array of plants, only to have 50% of them not flowering or bearing enough fruits the following year.
When asking, do trees have genders, know that the answer can mean the difference between a bountiful or lackluster harvest.
If in doubt, simply check the inner workings of the flower (if possible) to see if there is a stamen and a pistil, or one or the other. That will indicate whether or not you need more than one of any kinds of tree.
White Flowering Trees Identification by Gender
In white flowering trees identification, having a backyard with green foliage and all-white flowers can create just as stunning an impact as a garden with all the colors of the rainbow.
They evoke a feeling of calm and tranquility, and if planted correctly can add contrast and brightness even on a sunny day.
Understanding their reproduction can dictate the flowers you get.
To determine what species of tree would be suitable for your USDA hardiness zone, simply check with your local store, and then cross-check the gender of the flowers so cross-pollination can occur easily.
Do Trees Have Genders? Tree Sexes Explained
The role of city planning has to encompass the placement of trees and plants as it’s quite easy to make a seemly insignificant mistake that will have wide-reaching consequences on those with allergies.6
A simple example is the dispersal of pollen in summer and the adverse reactions on hay fever sufferers if the wrong trees are planted in the wrong places.
New trees are another matter because with proper tree selection, clouds of pollen that are wafting on the breeze in the summer months, impacting the health of locals can be avoided. The key is not to plant too many male pollen-carrying trees that exacerbate seasonal allergies that can make summer months terrible for some.
Unfortunately, city planners prefer to have them as they take fewer man-hours to maintain compared to seed-carrying female trees whose fruits and seeds have to be constantly cleared away.
Part of the problem for the nearly 50 million allergy sufferers in the United States, is that many city locations such as parks and public gathering zones have these pollen-only trees ringed around them.
If chronic asthma or hay fever is forcing you to keep all the windows locked on your house no matter the temperature outside on a summer’s day, the tree on your lawn could be partially responsible for the extra haze of pollen adding to your misery.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Monoecious and Dioecious Organisms
Having the ability to self-pollinate without having to rely on another plant for reproduction is a big advantage, especially if the nearest relative is miles away. The problem is that there can be a reduction in fresh blood, so to speak.
Inbreeding among plants can be just as big a concern as among mammals and diversifying the gene pool is always necessary in at least one of the stages of reproduction to prevent any future problems.
With the dioecious trees, gene diversity and natural selection are not a problem, and in fact, it promotes allogamy(cross-breeding).
The disadvantage is that some of these trees have been known to come close to extinction, recently revealed by a State of the World’s Trees report,4 a pollination partner of the opposite gender not even in the same state never mind within pollen-throwing distance.
5 Facts About Trees
Pollination is the reproduction process that keeps the earth populated by trillions of trees, even as large areas of land are facing deforestation at the same time.
Some of these methods are easier than others, but the one that is the best, that classes as perfect, is when a flower possesses both the anther and the pistil.
Being hermaphroditic, not having to depend on the whim of an insect to swing by or the wind to blow in the right direction, will ensure that that species will not end up on the endangered list.
Here are 5 fast facts about trees that are simply astounding:
1. The World’s tallest tree is 380 feet tall and is called Hyperion
2. Interestingly, trees can emit a warning chemical called phenolics when they are under attack by invasive pests to alert other nearby trees.
3. Similar to how beards and hair grow at different rates in the week, parts of a tree such as the roots and the foliage, grow at different rates depending on the seasons.
4. A study undertaken by the University of Illinois and the University of Hong Kong has revealed that a leisurely stroll in a forest has a calming effect due to the chemicals called phytoncides naturally released by the trees.
5. Trees constantly clean the air that we breathe, absorbing harmful pollutants, and are in the first line of defense against climate change.2
Hopefully, that question has been fully answered within this article. Trees tend to be gender neutral, the reproductory male and female parts allocated to the flowers or the fruits, and either relying on in-plant fertilization or nature bringing the two opposite genders of the pollen and the seed together by wind power or wing power.
The wind is always blowing and the birds and bees are always nearby to assist in the process of transporting the pollen to the seeds.
If you’re considering planting trees this spring, make sure to check the answer to the question, do tree have genders, that way you can avoid unwanted consequences to your landscape design.
Frequently Asked Questions About Do Trees Have Genders
Do Apple Trees Have Male and Female Flowers? Do Apple Trees Have Genders?
No, apple trees either have one or the other on a single tree.
Do Lemon Trees Have Male and Female Flowers?
Both male and female flowers exist on a lemon tree so it is classed as monoecious.
Do Pine Trees Have Male and Female Cones?
Pine trees are monoecious and have both male and female cones.
How Many Trees Are in the World?
So, how many trees are in the world? There are 3.04 trillion trees in the world.
How Many Tree Species Are There?
So, how many tree species are there? There are approximately 60,000 species of trees according to a report recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Are Coconuts Monoecious or Dioecious?
Coconuts are monoecious so they do not require another tree for pollination.
References
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2Massachusetts Institute of Technology. (2023). What We Know About Climate Change. Climate Portal. Retrieved March 1, 2023, from <https://climate.mit.edu/what-we-know-about-climate-change>
3Michigan State University. (2023). Pollination. MSU Extension. Retrieved March 1, 2023, from <https://www.canr.msu.edu/nativeplants/pollination/>
4United States Botanic Garden. (2021, September 1). One in three tree species face extinction reveals first-ever State of the World’s Trees report. United States Botanic Garden. Retrieved March 1, 2023, from <https://www.usbg.gov/blog/one-three-tree-species-face-extinction-reveals-first-ever-state-worlds-trees-report>
5University of California Berkeley. (2023). The birds and the bees. Understanding Evolution. Retrieved March 1, 2023, from <https://evolution.berkeley.edu/using-trees-to-understand-plants/the-birds-and-the-bees/>
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7University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. (2023). Plantentine is the Suspect. The Great Plant Escape. Retrieved March 1, 2023, from <https://web.extension.illinois.edu/gpe/case4/c4facts1a.html#>
8University of Minnesotta. University of Minnesota Extension. Retrieved from <https://extension.umn.edu/identify-invasive-species/common-buckthorn>
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19White Oak Tree by Peggychoucair, Honey Locust Tree by Jarmila, Cucumber by anaterate, Melon by Ignartonosbg, Kiwi by Buecherwurm, Spinach by valkian, Aubergine by MabelAmber. Retrieved from <https://pixabay.com/>
20Bellpepper by JullWellington, Parsnip by WikimediaImages, Natal Plum by annekrois, Rose of Sharon by Heung Soon, Japanese Snowbell by Anhhoi, Carolina, Silverbell by Samuel Stone, Sourwood by dandelionn, Many Trees by Valiphotos. Retrieved from <https://pixabay.com/>
21Cherry Blossom by Evgeny Tchebotarev, Cashew Tree by Quang Nguyen Vinh, Japanese Maple Tree by Bianca Jelezniac, Olive Tree by Jose Francisco Fernandez Suara, Southern Magnolia by Chris F, Mexican Plum by Szymon Pomykala. Retrieved from <https://www.pexels.com/>
22Tupelo Tree by Leslie Saunders, Pear Tree by Josie Weiss, Persimmon Tree by Ernesto Scarponi, Mango Tree by Rajendra Biswal, Poplar Tree by Nareeta Martin, Papaya Tree by Brenda Melgoza. Retrieved from <https://unsplash.com/>
23Acacia Tree by Rabah Al Shammary, Asparagus by Alisa Golovinska, Black Chokeberry by Julian, Washington Hawthorn by Dieter K, Seaberry by Yulia Khlebnikova. Retrieved from <https://unsplash.com/>