Pomegranate Tree Information

Identification

• The pomegranate tree has a narrow central trunk and is prone to branching, often looking more like a shrub than an erect tree. The leaves are leathery and up to 4 inches long. The branches grow in a downward arc from the trunk. Pomegranate tree flowers are up to 1 inch across and 2 inches long. They are red and tubular with five to eight petals and are produced singly or in small groups at the end of the branches.

  Pomegranate fruit, technically a berry, are globose and up to 6 inches wide. They have a pronounced box-like shape and the leathery skin ripens to a deep red color. Inside they contain up to six hundred seeds surrounded by transparent sacs that are red when ripe. The seeds are divided into clumps by yellow membranes.

History

• The pomegranate tree has been cultivated for thousands of years in Iran and the Middle East across to Afghanistan and Northern India as well as in the Mediterranean. It is also widely grown in Latin America and was introduced into California in the 18th century by Spanish settlers.

  The pomegranate features heavily in ancient mythology. Ancient Persian mythology said that the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden was a pomegranate tree rather than an apple tree. Persephone, the Ancient Greek Queen of the Underworld, was forced to spend half the year in Hades after eating six pomegranate seeds.

Cultivation

• Plant your pomegranate tree in a sunny spot. They thrive in well drained soil, either alkali or acid, and will tolerate moderately salty soil as well as rocky ground. The trees are drought resistant but need to be well watered to produce a good fruit crop. Pomegranate trees are resistant to most pests but can suffer from whitefly and mealy bug infestations. In California pomegranate plantations are damaged by the omnivorous leafroller (Platynola stultana).

  Prune back some branches of the tree to the trunk during its dormant winter phase every three years to stimulate growth. The flowers and fruit occur on new branches. Remove suckers that grow out from the base of the main trunk to prevent your Pomegranate Tree from turning into a shrub. Propagation is by cuttings taken from year old growth. Take 12- to 20-inch cuttings and plant them with the top third sticking out of the soil. Pomegranate seeds germinate well but do not always come true.

Range

• Pomegranate trees can be grown in subtropical and temperate areas but will be damaged by temperatures below 12 degrees F. Growth is seriously impeded by late frosts that occur after the tree has started to shoot. They grow best in areas with long summers and cool winters but do not thrive or produce good fruit crops in humid places such as mainland Florida. In the U.S., Floridata recommends pomegranate trees for USDA Zones 8 to 11. Pomegranate trees now grow wild in parts of the south and southwestern U.S.

Uses

• The pomegranate tree's compact size and attractive arching branches make it a good specimen tree for Mediterranean style gardens. Pomegranate trees can also be pruned into hedges and thrive in large containers.

  Pomegranate fruit can be eaten fresh or juiced and are rich in antioxidants. The juice is used to make grenadine concentrate and the seeds and pulp are used as an acidity regulator in Indian cuisine and to makes sauces in Persian cuisine. A 2008 study by the University of California found that pomegranate juice and extracts suppressed the expression of prostate cancer genes.