A plant that produces viable seed from its own pollen, producing fruit and seed without requiring a separate pollen source.
In plain terms
Some plants can pollinate themselves; pollen from one flower fertilizes the same flower or another flower on the same plant. Self-pollinating plants (tomatoes, beans, most peppers) produce fruit with just one plant. Cross-pollinating plants (apples, many squashes) need pollen from a different plant variety to set fruit.
Why this matters
Understanding self-pollination versus cross-pollination explains why you can grow single self-pollinating plants and get fruit, but need multiple cross-pollinating varieties.
In practice
Examples
Tomato: self-pollinating; single plant produces abundant fruit.
Bean: self-pollinating; single plant produces bean crop.
Apple: cross-pollinating; single plant produces few or no fruit without pollen from compatible variety.
Pepper: self-pollinating; single plant produces fruit; multiple plants increase yield.
Practical applications
Plant self-pollinating crops (tomatoes, beans, peppers) in any quantity; single plants produce fruit.
For cross-pollinating crops, plant at least two compatible varieties within 50 feet.
Check seed packets or plant tags for pollination requirements.
Hand-pollinate self-pollinators if bee activity is extremely low (use small brush).
Understand pollination type to plan planting strategy and variety selection.