 Alexander's stain is a widely used technique for assessing pollen vitality, but it involves the use of three highly toxic chemicals, chloral hydrate, phenol, and mercuric chloride. To address this issue, we have developed a new staining method that does not require these chemicals and can be performed with minimal equipment. This simplified method is suitable for field studies and allows samples to be collected and fixed on site before being examined under a light microscope. This article was authored by Ross Peterson, Janet Pease-Sloven, and Chong Binh-Shin.