This guide will explain how to create every bee mutation and flower hybrid, as well as include some tips and tricks for improving the chances of these hybrids occurring.
 
 
I will be updating this guide as I make discoveries in-game.
 
 

Introduction

 
 
 

How to Cross-Pollinate Flowers

Bees will naturally cross-pollinate the flowers that are around their hives.
 
 
Seeds can be collected from filled frames, which means that you need at least a Basic Apiary to breed flowers.
 
 
Position your apiary in an open space and plant the appropriate flowers around it. To improve your chances of getting the flower you want, remove other flowers from the area.
 
 
You can see which flowers the bees within an apiary are gathering from by clicking on the apiary, and checking the flowers icons on the right.
 
 

 
 
If you notice a flower that you would prefer wasn’t being used by these bees, hover over the queen to see the radius of how far she will fly, and remove any unwanted flowers from within that circle.
 
 

 
 
Check the apiaries regularly for filled frames, and switch them for empty frames. Once you have a few, uncap those cheeky frames and see if you found the seeds you wanted!
 
 
TIP: If your home is too far away from your flower-breeding area, take a bed with you to speed up the process.
 
 
 

Flower Hybrids

Tier I

 
Honeyrose – naturally occurring in the Archipelago
 
 
Swarmwort – naturally occurring in the Archipelago
 
 
Beekeeper’s Delight – naturally occurring in the Archipelago
 
 

Tier II

 
 

 
 
Honeybriar – Swarmwort x Beekeeper’s Delight
 
 

 
 
Goldenrod – Beekeeper’s Delight x Honeyrose
 
 

 
 
Beesknees – Swarmwort x Honeyrose
 
 
Hivesbane – naturally occurring in swamps
 
 
Pondshine – naturally occurring in swamps
 
 

Tier III

 
Honeydrop – naturally occurring in tundra
 
 
Frosteria – naturally occurring in tundra
 
 

 
 
Hivanium – Pondshine x Honeybriar
 
 

 
 
Combristle – Goldenrod x Hivesbane
 
 

 
 
Beewell – Goldenrod x Beesknees
 
 
 

How to Cross-Breed Bees

The Basics

 
When your bees are in a natural hive, they will produce Honeycomb and otherwise will not interact with each other. Once you move bees into an Apiary (or, later, a Swarmer) you can unlock cross-breeds or ‘Mutations’.
 
 
To create a Mutation, you first need to create a Hybrid bee. Hybrid bees are made by creating Queens out of two types of bee. For example, you might place a Common and Forest bee into an Apiary, and they will breed to create a Common-Forest or Forest-Common hybrid.
 
 
Hybrid bees can create either of their ‘base’ types, another hybrid bee, or—if conditions are right—a mutation. In this example, that means a Common-Forest bee might make a Common bee, a Forest bee, a Common-Forest bee, or a Verdant bee.
 
 
Tip: Unlock Swarmers for faster bee-breeding. Queens won’t create any produce in these hives but they will have more offspring!
 
 

Prepare the Space

 
 
It is important to prepare your space where you will be breeding bees. Consider factors like weather and climate, as some bees will only breed in certain conditions.
 
 
Tip: You can ask the Hivemother for rain by using the Swamp Idol in a Hivemother Altar.
 
 
Think about which plants you need in the area. For breeding bees quickly, I recommend:
 

• Beesknees increases the amount of offspring.
• Hivesbane increases the chance of mutation.
• Combristle decreases the lifespan of queens.

 
Avoid:
 

• Honeydrop decreases chance of mutation.
• Goldenrod increases the lifespan of queens.

 
Tip: Make sure your breeding grounds are near water so you can use water-based and land-based flowers. You can use a late-game spade to terraform the landscape and create areas for water, so this will help you create the perfect breeding area later on.
 
 
 

Bee Mutations

Tier I

 
Common Bee – naturally occurring in archipelago
 
Forest Bee – naturally occurring in archipelago
 
Verge Bee – naturally occurring in archipelago
 
Uncommon Bee – naturally occurring in archipelago
 
 

Tier II

 
Verdant Bee – Common x Forest, during the day
 
Vibrant Bee – Common x Verge, during the day
 
Drowsy Bee – Forest x Uncommon, dawn or dusk
 
Misty Bee – Verge x Forest, while raining
 
Dream Bee – Common x Uncommon, while you are sleeping in a bed
 
Murky Bee – naturally occurring in swamp
 
Muggy Bee – naturally occurring in swamp
 
Glowing Bee – naturally occurring in swamp
 
Rocky Bee – naturally occurring after mining a large rock using a stone or better pickaxe
 
 

Tier III

 
Regal Bee – Verdant x Vibrant, with Goldenrod flowers near the hive
 
Worker Bee – Misty x Vibrant, with Honeybriar flowers near the hive
 
Stubborn Bee – Murky x Drowsy, dawn or dusk
 
Domesticated Bee – Verdant x Drowsy, hive placed inside a house
 
Hermit Bee – Muggy x Misty OR Murky x Misty, with no other bees near the hive
 
Twilight Bee – Dream x Drowsy, dawn only [more conditions may apply]
 
Frosty Bee – naturally occurring in tundra
 
Fiery Bee – naturally occurring in tundra
 
Jurassic Bee – [occurring in tundra, conditions unconfirmed]
 
 

Tier IV

 
Crystal Bee – Frosty x Regal, near Honeycore and in snowstorms
 
Ancient Bee – Worker x Twilight, with increasing Lifespan flowers nearby
 
Bohemian Bee – Stubborn x Domesticated, with [all, many] flowers nearby
 
Prolific Bee – Hermit x Domesticated, with [number undetermined] working hives nearby
 
Industrial Bee – Regal x Worker, with hive near Honeycore automated machinery
 
Chaotic Bee – Hermit x Twilight, with decreasing Stability flowers nearby
 
Arctic Bee – Stubborn x Frosty, in cold climate
 
Blazing Bee – Stubborn x Fiery, in hot climate
 
Empress Bee – Fiery x Regal, with [flower undetermined] smoker nearby
 
Melodic Bee – Domesticated x Twilight, with [music undetermined] music player nearby
 
Lightning Bee – Bred from a Hallowed bee during a lightning storm
 
Hallowed Bee – Need to access the Hallowed area in the centre of the map by completing the Guidebook and getting Grandpa’s axe
 
 

Tier V

 
Sacred Bee – [Conditions undetermined]
 
 

Tier ???

 
Glitched Bee – [Conditions undetermined]
 
The Hivemother – [Conditions undetermined]
 
 

 
 
Here we come to an end for APICO How to Cross-Pollinate Flowers & Bees hope you enjoy it. If you think we forget something to include or we should make an update to the post let us know via comment, and we will fix it asap! Thanks and have a great day!