Ornamental vs. Fruit-bearing Pomegranate Bushes

Climate

• Fruiting pomegranate grows best in tropical, subtropical and subtemperate regions, particularly where the summers are hot and dry. Typically, it can withstand winter temperatures of down to 10 degrees Fahrenheit. However, cold hardiness ranges among individual varieties. In some cases, temperatures cannot drop below 18 degrees Fahrenheit. On the other hand, ornamental pomegranates typically thrive in colder climates. For example, according to Texas A&M Horticultural Extension Service, ornamental varieties grow well throughout the state, whereas fruiting pomegranate bushes only grow in southern and central parts of Texas.

Size

• Depending on the variety of ornamental or fruiting pomegranate you select, you may have a small shrub or even a tree. For example, the ornamental 'Chico' is a dwarf, measuring just 1 1/2 feet tall. The 'Nochi Shibari', also ornamental, regularly reaches 8 feet. Both varieties respond well to regular pruning. Fruiting pomegranate also grows as either a bushy shrub or a tree. If you wish to train your pomegranate into a single trunk for a taller, more upright form, regular pruning will be necessary during early growth. Otherwise, the plant will naturally take a more sprawling shrub-like form.

Water and Soil

• Fruit-bearing pomegranates require regular watering to produce healthy fruit, whereas ornamental varieties can withstand dry conditions easily. Water fruiting varieties regularly during dry months, as sudden changes in moisture can cause fruit to split or rack. Directly after planting either ornamental or fruiting pomegranates, it's also advisable to water regularly. Both ornamental and fruiting pomegranates are also tolerant of varied soil types, doing well in alkaline and acidic soils. Well-drained, loamy soils are ideal, especially for fruiting pomegranates. However, sandy and clayey soils are also acceptable.

Flowering and Fruiting

• Fruiting pomegranates typically reach fruit maturity in the summer and into the early fall. If you're growing fruit-bearing pomegranate, expect a good degree of fruit drop during the initial few years of fruit production. While ornamental varieties won't give you anything to eat, they do produce eye-catching flowers in rusty golds and reds. Depending on the variety, the flowers may be single or double, and they will range in color from bright pink to deep burgundy. Flowering typically lasts several weeks.