Punica
( POON - ih - kuh )
At-A-Glance Information
This genus of deciduous shrubs and trees needs full sun and regular water, especially during fruiting seasons. They are native to Iran and the Mediterranean region, and reach 15-20 feet tall and wide. Pomegranate (sometimes called Wine Apple) shrubs and trees were introduced to the California region by Spanish settlers in 1769. They are often kept pruned to about half that size. In spring, showy red flowers appear at branch tips, and eventually turn into red fruits that are ready to pick in autumn. Each fruit contains hundreds of sacs of seedy, juicy pulp.
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Punica Species and Varietals
The botanical name for Pomegranate is Punica. The genus Punica includes just two species, Punica granatum and Punica protopunica. It is a member of the plant family Lythraceae. The common name Pomegranate is derived from the Latin words for apple (pomum) and seeded (granatum). The shrubs below are all members of the Punica granatum (or Common Pomegranate) species. Pomegranate shrubs and trees grow well in zones 5-24, H1 and H2, though this varies somewhat depending on the variety grown. For more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.
'Wonderful'
A very commonly grown variety with orange-red flowers and red fruit with red pulp. |
'Ambrosia'
Huge fruit with pale pink skin and purple pulp. |
'Angel Red'
Early harvest of extra juicy fruit with red skin and soft seeds. |
'Eversweet'
This variety ripens early and has almost seedless fruit and juice that does not stain. |
'Granada'
This species has pink flowers and fruit with pink pulp inside. |
'Kashmir'
Pink-red fruit with great flavor; commonly used for juicing. |
'Pink Satin'
Pink-red fruit with light pink soft seeds and juice that does not stain. |
'Red Silk'
With medium-large reddish fruit with sweet but tart red pulp. Reaches 6-8 feet tall; ideal for containers. |
Caring for and pruning Punica shrubs
Grow these shrubs in full sun (they require at least 6-8 hours of direct sun each day for growth and fruit production). Pomegranate shrubs need well-draining soil that is loamy and slightly acidic (with a pH of between 5.5 and 7.0). Water young plant frequently to help establish a strong root system. Once mature, these fruit-producers are actually pretty drought-tolerant. Allow the soil to dry out between deep waterings. Overwatering these trees can cause real damage to these trees. Mulch around the base of the plants to increase soil moisture retention. Fertilize in springtime before new growth begins for the year with a balanced fertilizer (such as a 10-10-10 or a 14-14-14. Organic compost can be worked into the soil yearly as well, which will improve soil quality and fertility over time.
Pomegranate trees and shrubs will need some winter protection in cooler climates to avoid damage. They can be either covered by a cloth or moved indoors. Pomegranate plants can be grown either in-ground or in a container. Pruning is necessary for both in-ground and container plants to maintain their shape and size. It can also help out with air circulation, which can cut down on fungal problems. Remove dead or damaged branches, as well as any suckers that emerge from the base of the plant. For more information on pruning these trees, see the Videos section of this page.
How to Harvest Pomegranate Fruits
The fruits produced by Pomegranate trees ripen in late summer through fall, depending on the variety and growing conditions of course. Harvest when fruit is fully colored and makes a metallic sound when tapped. At this time, cut the fruit from the tree, leaving a small portion of the stem attached to the branch. After harvesting, remove the seeds from the mesocarp (the spongy, white interior part of the fruit) and eat them raw or in salads, or make juice out of them to flavor things like liquors, juices or smoothies, or wine.
Pomegranate trees and shrubs will need some winter protection in cooler climates to avoid damage. They can be either covered by a cloth or moved indoors. Pomegranate plants can be grown either in-ground or in a container. Pruning is necessary for both in-ground and container plants to maintain their shape and size. It can also help out with air circulation, which can cut down on fungal problems. Remove dead or damaged branches, as well as any suckers that emerge from the base of the plant. For more information on pruning these trees, see the Videos section of this page.
How to Harvest Pomegranate Fruits
The fruits produced by Pomegranate trees ripen in late summer through fall, depending on the variety and growing conditions of course. Harvest when fruit is fully colored and makes a metallic sound when tapped. At this time, cut the fruit from the tree, leaving a small portion of the stem attached to the branch. After harvesting, remove the seeds from the mesocarp (the spongy, white interior part of the fruit) and eat them raw or in salads, or make juice out of them to flavor things like liquors, juices or smoothies, or wine.
Propagation
Pomegranate can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your plant, follow the instructions below:
Propagating Pomegranate by Cutting
Propagating Pomegranate by Seed
Propagating Pomegranate by Cutting
- Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
- In spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Locate a branch that is between 1/4 and 1/2 inch wide, and cut one or more 8-10 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch (or from a previous year's sucker) and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
- Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
- Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.
Propagating Pomegranate by Seed
- Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
- Harvest your seeds. The seed pods on Caesalpinia plants are pretty easy to spot, they're large and dangle from the branches, left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will begin to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
- Caesalpinia seeds have a hard coating that protects them, but this coating also makes it a little difficult to get them to germinate. We can help the process along by scarifying them with sandpaper (or simply rubbing them against an abrasive surface). Do this with as many seeds as you can; they will probably not all sow, and the ones that do will be of varying characteristics. The more seeds you plant, the more chances you will have to get the resulting shrub you want. Place your seeds in lukewarm water for six hours. Viable seeds will sink to the bottom, and non-viable seeds will float to the top. You can discard any seeds that float.
- Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 7-14 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
- Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.
Problems and Pests
Pomegranate shrubs are generally resistant to pests and diseases, though they can be affected by these common garden issues:
- Aphids
- Spider Mites
- Scale Insects
- Powdery Mildew
- Fruit Rot
Gallery
Videos
How to correctly prune a Pomegranate tree.
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How to grow and care for a Pomegranate tree.
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Resources
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 524, Pomegranate
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