Pomegranate Overview
| GENUS NAME | Punica granatum |
| COMMON NAME | Pomegranate |
| PLANT TYPE | Fruit, Shrub, Tree |
| LIGHT | Part Sun, Sun |
| HEIGHT | 3 to 20 feet |
| WIDTH | 2 to 15 feet |
| FLOWER COLOR | Orange, Pink, Red, White, Yellow |
| FOLIAGE COLOR | Blue/Green |
| SEASON FEATURES | Colorful Fall Foliage, Fall Bloom, Summer Bloom |
| SPECIAL FEATURES | Attracts Birds, Low Maintenance |
| ZONES | 10, 11, 6, 7, 8, 9 |
| PROPAGATION | Division, Seed, Stem Cuttings |
Pomegranate Care Tips
If you pick the right pomegranate and the right spot, you don’t have to do much other than plant it. But you can get fruit sooner if you pamper them for a few years.
Light
The more sun the better. Pomegranates tolerate four hours but they need at least six hours to do well. If you grow evergreen varieties like ‘Nana’ in a pot indoors, they need the sunniest window you can give them in order to keep them growing and flowering during winter, or consider using a grow light.
Soil and Water
Pomegranates don’t need the best soil or supplemental water. But they will perform better in rich soil with a neutral PH and with occasional deep watering, especially during the first year or two and during drought. If you grow in a pot, you will need to water weekly and use a good quality potting soil.
Temperature and Humidity
Pomegranates prefer temperatures between 85°F and 100°F during the summer. Most of the older pomegranates don’t tolerate temperatures below 10°F and can be damaged by temps in the 20s. A few commercial-quality fruiting varieties can tolerate temperatures below zero.
Traditionally, pomegranates were thought to perform poorly in humid regions. But more recently, they’ve been found to grow well enough in humid Florida to potentially become a commercial crop. Still, it’s best to look for pomegranates that are known to grow successfully where you live.
Fertilizer
Fertilizing during the growing season for a year or two can get you to that first crop of fruit in fewer years. For ornamental flowering types, extra nutrients can increase the frequency of bloom. Use all-purpose fertilizer or add a layer of compost or manure around your plant. But it’s not necessary to use fertilizer if you want to take a hands-off approach. You can still grow a vigorous, attractive, fruit-loaded pomegranate without fertilizing it. If you choose to fertilize, either apply once in mid-to-late spring or monthly from mid-May to August.
