Yes, many plants have two parents.
Sexual Reproduction in Plants
Most flowering plants reproduce sexually, requiring genetic material from two parents. This process involves the fusion of male and female gametes (sex cells) to create offspring with a unique combination of genetic traits. The male gamete (pollen) fertilizes the female gamete (ovule) resulting in a seed that grows into a new plant. This is detailed in sources like Let's Talk Science's explanation of plant reproduction https://letstalkscience.ca/educational-resources/backgrounders/plant-reproduction and the Purdue University explanation on new plants from cuttings https://www.purdue.edu/hla/sites/yardandgarden/extpub/new-plants-from-cuttings-text-only/. For example, an apple seed resulting from pollination contains a mix of parental DNA (as mentioned in a Reddit Botany discussion https://www.reddit.com/r/botany/comments/f0x3pk/why_is_it_that_when_you_plant_an_apple_seed_the/).
Asexual Reproduction: Exceptions to the Rule
It's important to note that some plants can reproduce asexually, meaning they only require one parent. Methods like cuttings, where a part of a plant is used to grow a new identical plant, demonstrate this. However, this new plant is genetically identical to its single parent, not a unique combination of two.
Clarification of Terminology: "Plant Parents"
The term "plant parent," as used in various contexts like online plant communities (Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/houseplants/comments/rt0h09/plant_parents_with_animals_do_you_only_buy_pet/, Facebook groups https://www.facebook.com/groups/2412659799062093/), refers to human caregivers of plants, not the biological parents of the plant itself.
