Plant type
The math is the same for every species — the pick sets the icons, the saved genomes and this link: Hemp Clone in the item database →
Your clones
How crossbreeding works
A plant crossbreeds exactly once, when it enters its crossbreed growth stage. Each of its 6 gene slots looks at the neighbours' genes in the same slot — a stronger type can overwrite it.
- When
- Roughly 20 minutes after planting (conditions shift it) — one time only, at the crossbreed stage.
- Where
- Same planter, within 1.5 m — in a large planter the middle cell touches all 8 surrounding plants, edges 5, corners 3.
- Same
- Only the exact same species crosses — and every berry colour is its own species. A red berry never crossbreeds a blue one.
Gene weights & the strictly-greater rule
Per slot, the game sums a weight per gene type across all neighbours. The highest sum overwrites the middle plant's gene ONLY if it is strictly greater than that gene's own weight. Equal means nothing changes.
- 1× G (0.6) against a W slot (1.0): 0.6 is not greater than 1.0 — W stays. One good neighbour is never enough.
- 2× G (1.2) against the same W slot: 1.2 > 1.0 — the slot becomes G. Bad genes have to be outnumbered, not matched.
The weight numbers don't live in the game code (they ship in asset data). G/Y/H 0.6 and W/X 1.0 is the community-verified consensus every serious calculator uses.
What the genes do
The standard goal is GGYYYY — two growth genes for speed, four yield genes for harvest. Some growers run GGGYYY for faster cycles at slightly lower yield; hardiness (H) only earns a slot in bad growing conditions.
Seeds roll random genes (each slot has a 50 % chance of a good one) — clones keep the exact genes of their parent. That's the whole trick: grow seeds once, cut clones of the best plant and do all breeding with clones.
No dice: ties follow planting order
When two gene types tie on the weight sum, the game rolls nothing — the code takes the first type that reached the maximum, in the order the plants were planted into the planter. For a player that's practically unpredictable, so this calculator (like every other) models a tie as a coin flip.
The practical takeaway: plant your donors first and put the clone you're breeding into the middle cell last. Same clones, same planter — but the planting order changes which gene wins a tie.
Genetics FAQ
How long does crossbreeding take in Rust?
About 20 minutes after planting under normal conditions. It happens exactly once, when the plant enters its crossbreed growth stage — after that its genes are locked.
What is the best genome in Rust?
GGYYYY is the community standard: two growth genes for speed, four yield genes for maximum harvest. GGGYYY trades a little harvest for faster cycles; hardiness only earns a slot in bad growing conditions.
Why didn't one G neighbour change my W slot?
Weights. G, Y and H weigh 0.6 while W and X weigh 1.0 — and the donor sum must be STRICTLY greater than the middle plant's own gene weight to overwrite it. One G (0.6) loses to W (1.0); two Gs (1.2) win.
Do different plants crossbreed with each other?
No. Only plants of the exact same species crossbreed — and every berry colour counts as its own species, so a red berry never crosses with a blue one. Hemp only crossbreeds hemp.
How many plants can crossbreed at once?
Up to 8 donors. Neighbours must sit in the same planter within 1.5 m — in a large planter the middle cell touches all eight surrounding cells, orthogonal and diagonal.
Should I breed with seeds or clones?
Clones. Seeds roll random genes every time; a clone keeps the exact genes of its parent plant. Grow seeds once, cut clones from the best result and do every crossbreed with clones.
What happens when two genes tie in a crossbreed?
The game has no tie randomness — the winner follows planting order (the first type to reach the maximum in neighbour iteration order). That's practically unpredictable, so calculators model it as a coin flip. Tip: plant donors first, the middle clone last.
Odds per slot
G Growth · Y Yield · H Hardiness · W Water · X Empty
Target genome
Genome bank
Live plant catalog · build 24793074. Gene weights are the community-verified values.
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