BEWARE! Young plants of Hakea may lack fruits but this does not necessarily mean that they are sterile. Many species will take a number of years from germination to the production of their first fruits. If in doubt do not use this character.

There are only two species of Hakea which are known to be sterile, i.e. never produce fruits. These are Hakea pulvinifera from the Keepit Dam area of New South Wales and Hakea aenigma from Kangaroo Island in South Australia. Both of these species produce normal flowers but the pollen is sterile and fruits never form; they reproduce by suckering.