Do male marijuana plants give seeds?

If you're growing cannabis, understanding the difference between male and female plants is essential — especially when it comes to reproduction, seed production, and bud quality. One of the most common questions among new growers is: do male marijuana plants give seeds?

The answer is straightforward: male plants do not produce seeds — but they are essential in the process that creates them. In this article, we’ll explain the role of male cannabis plants, how seeds are made, how to avoid accidental pollination, and when (and why) you might want to keep male plants in your grow.

If your goal is resinous, seedless buds, knowing how male plants behave — and how to manage them — is key to protecting your harvest.

What is the role of male marijuana plants?

Cannabis is a dioecious plant

Cannabis plants are dioecious, meaning they grow as either male or female. This biological separation allows for cross-pollination and genetic diversity.

What males produce

Male plants develop pollen sacs — small, round structures that form at the nodes. These sacs release pollen grains, the male reproductive cells.

What they do not produce

Male plants do not develop buds or seeds. They are not suitable for consumption and contain very low cannabinoid levels. However, they are necessary for breeding and producing new cannabis seeds.

How are marijuana seeds created?

Seeds are only produced through pollination — the fertilisation of a female cannabis plant by a male.

The seed production process

• A male plant releases pollen from its sacs

• That pollen fertilises the female’s ovules

• The female shifts energy from resin production to seed formation

• Mature seeds develop inside the buds over several weeks

What happens if no males are present?

If you grow only females, they will not produce seeds — and you’ll get high-potency, seedless buds, also known as sinsemilla. These are ideal for smoking, extraction, and medicinal use.

To guarantee this outcome, start your grow with feminised cannabis seeds, which produce female plants with 99% reliability.

Can male marijuana plants make seeds on their own?

No — males do not produce seeds

Male cannabis plants only produce pollen. They cannot form seeds because they lack female reproductive parts (pistils and calyxes).

Exception: hermaphrodite plants

Under stress, a female plant can develop male pollen sacs. This condition, called hermaphroditism, allows the plant to self-pollinate, often resulting in low-quality, unstable seeds.

Want to avoid this? Use stable genetics from trusted breeders like Mavericks Genetics and follow our tips in the hermaphrodite cannabis guide.

Why do breeders use male marijuana plants?

Although male plants are undesirable for flower production, they are essential in cannabis breeding.

Their role in breeding programmes

Breeders select elite males to pass on desirable traits, such as:

• Strong stem structure

• High resistance to disease or mould

• Short flowering times

• Unique terpene profiles

They use male pollen to fertilise females and create new seed lines.

If you’re interested in breeding, explore our regular cannabis seeds collection, ideal for creating custom crosses.

How to identify male marijuana plants early

Pre-flowering signs

Male plants typically show signs of sex earlier than females, especially under vegetative light cycles.

Look for:

• Rounded pre-flowers or pollen sacs

• No pistils (white hairs)

• Taller, less bushy appearance

Identifying males early allows you to remove them before pollination. Learn more in our guide to spotting male cannabis plants.

Should you remove male marijuana plants?

Yes, unless you’re breeding

If you’re growing for buds, male plants must be removed immediately. One mature male can pollinate all females in the area, turning your entire harvest into seeded flowers.

Pollen is airborne and can travel:

• Several metres indoors

• Over 1 km outdoors

If you only want resin-rich buds, stick with feminised seeds and remove any males as soon as they appear.

What happens if you leave a male in the grow?

Letting a male plant mature near females will result in pollination, which leads to:

Avoid this by starting with autoflower feminised strains — ideal for small spaces and fast flowering cycles with no males involved.

Can male marijuana plants be used for anything else?

While they don’t produce smokeable buds, male plants do have value:

• Pollen collection for controlled breeding

• Genetic preservation for landrace or heirloom lines

• Educational purposes in botanical studies

• Fibre production in industrial hemp grows

If you’re working with heritage strains, our regular seeds from Mavericks Genetics offer the genetic diversity needed for experimentation and selection.

Summary: do male marijuana plants give seeds?

No — male plants do not produce seeds. They produce pollen, which fertilises female plants and leads to seed formation. Only female cannabis plants, once pollinated, will generate seeds. Unless you're breeding, males should be removed to protect bud quality.