Meet the Pomegrante
Pomegranate | Punica granatum
How do you know it’s me?:
I am a large deciduous shrub…sometimes a small tree. My foliage can be evergreen in tropical areas.
I have long, glossy, elongated oval-shaped leaves. They sit opposite one another along the branch or whorl around the branch.
My flowers are trumpet-shaped, with crepey layers of petals. They emerge from bulbous, showy red buds - in clusters or singles.
My blooms give way to orange-sized, rounded fruits, with leathery skin, and downward-facing “crowns.” They ripen to a yellow-red color.
How big do I grow?: 8’ - 15’ height and 6’ - 10’ spread.
Sun-seeker or shade-lover: Full sun.
Where I prefer to put my roots: I prefer dry to medium moisture, fertile soils. I am very drought tolerant.
Hardiness: Zone 8-11
Original home: I am native to an area from Turkey to western and middle Asia. Nowadays, I am commonly grown in the Mediterranean and Middle East.
Colors: Bright orange-red blooms. My yellow-red fruit are also showy - typically ripening in late summer through fall.
When I bloom: Late spring to summer.
Wildlife friends: My flowers are very attractive to hummingbirds.
Flora Fun Facts: The name “pomegranate” means “seeded apple.”
More Info: The coral-red blossoms and lustrous green leaves of the pomegranate shrub provide a tropical feel to a landscape. Though it thrives in dry soils, it creates colorful bulbs of juicy, sweet, nourishing fruit.
A member of the Lythraceae (henna) family.
Compact/dwarf forms of this plant exist, including ‘Nana', a small cultivar that can perform well as an indoor plant or compact outdoor plant.
The seeds are high in potassium, vitamin C, and antioxidants, and should be harvested when ripe. They’re usually eaten raw or processed into juice, like the cocktail additive Grenadine.
A pomegranate fruit can be determined to be ripe when it loses its roundedness and starts to subtly flatten on the sides. It should feel heavy - an indication that the seeds are juicy and full.
A great choice for an accent plant, in a dry garden, Mediterranean-themed garden, or edible landscape.
In some cultures, the pomegranate symbolizes fertility and abundance.
This plant has a long history of medicinal use - primarily to treat tapeworms, urinary issues, inflammation, and digestive disorders.
