Sterilis
/STER-ih-lis/🏷️ Taxonomy●● Intermediate
An epithet indicating the plant is sterile — failing to produce viable seed, either because it has a structural abnormality, is a hybrid, or produces flowers that lack functional reproductive organs (as in many double-flowered cultivars). Sterile plants often flower more prolifically or for longer. Appears as sterilis (both genders).
Etymology
From Latin sterilis, meaning "barren," "unproductive," or "sterile," related to Greek steira (barren woman).
Example
“Hydrangea macrophylla has large sterile flowers surrounding smaller fertile ones, and Clematis 'Sterilis' produces its showy flowers without setting seed — channeling all its energy into bloom rather than fruit.”