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.

Punica Species and Varietals

The genus Punica includes just two species and is a member of the plant family Lythraceae. The plants in this genus are closely related to those in Lagerstroemia (Crape Myrtle), Lawsonia (Henna), and Cuphea (Firecracker Plant). The common name Pomegranate is derived from the Latin words for apple (pomum) and seeded (granatum). Pomegranate shrubs and trees grow well in USDA hardiness zones 8-11 or Sunset growing zones 5-24, H1 and H2, though this varies somewhat depending on the variety cultivated. For more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Punica granatum (Common Pomegranate, Anar, Granada)
This species is widely cultivated for its edible fruits commercially and in private residential gardens. It is native to a region that spans from northeastern Turkey and Iran through the Caucasus, central Asia, and into the Himalayas in India and Pakistan. It forms a shrub or small tree to between 5 and 16 feet tall when mature. Branches are spiny and leaves are green. Flowers are white and the fruits that follow have red to purplish husks. All cultivated crop Pomegranate trees are of this species. Many cultivars of this species have been developed for their resiliencies, fruit color, and size. They are listed and described below:

'Wonderful'
Commonly grown variety with orange-red flowers and red fruit with red pulp. 150-200 CH.

'Ambrosia'
Huge fruit with pale pink skin and purple pulp. 150-200 CH.

'Angel Red'
Early harvest of extra juicy fruit with red skin and soft seeds. 150-200 CH.

'Eversweet'
Ripens early; has almost seedless fruit and juice that does not stain. 150 CH.

'Granada'
This species has pink flowers and fruit with pink pulp inside. 200 CH.

'Kashmir'
Pink-red fruit with great flavor; commonly used for juicing. 150-200 CH.

'Nana'
Ornamental dwarf great for containers and bonsai. Bright red flowers and gold-red fruits.

'Pink Satin'
Pink-red fruit with light pink soft seeds and juice that does not stain. 150-200 CH.

'Red Silk'
Medium-large reddish fruit with sweet, tart red pulp. To 6-8 feet tall; good in containers. 150-200 CH.

'Sweet'
With yellow flowers and fruit that has pink pulp. 100-200 CH.

'White'
Pinkish white fruit with transparent pulp. 150-200 CH.

Punica protopunica (Pomegranate Tree, Socotran Pomegranate, Socotra Pomegranate, Wild Pomegranate of Socotra, Romman, رمان)
Native to the island and archipelago of Socotra in Yemen, this species produces a large shrub or small tree to between 8 and 15 feet tall. Leaves are small and glossy, and flowers are trumpet-shaped and pink. Fruits that follow are globular and much smaller than those of Punica granatum, measuring about 1.2 inches across.

Caring for Punica

Grow these trees and 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). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Apply a layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water young trees and shrubs frequently to help them establish a strong root system. Once mature, these fruit-producers are impressively drought-tolerant. Allow the soil to dry out between deep waterings and take care to not overwater or leave roots in standing water. Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. Make sure to protect these trees and shrubs when temperatures drop below 18 degrees Fahrenheit (or below 28 degrees Fahrenheit for young plants). They can be covered by a frost cloth or simply moved to a sheltered location (if they are grown in a container). Prune trees and shrubs in late winter to early spring before new growth pushes out. Remove dead or damaged branches as well as any suckers that emerge from the base. Then, open up the interior of the canopy to increase air flow and discourage fungal diseases. These plants can survive for hundreds of years in the landscape before needing to be replaced. They hit peak production between the ages of 15 and 35.

Caring for Punica in Containers
Punica trees and shrubs can be grown in containers, allowing urban gardeners and those in cooler zones to cultivate Pomegranates. The best Pomegranate cultivars for container growing are the ornamental dwarf Punica granatum 'Nana' and fruiting varieties 'Red Silk' (to about 6 feet tall with sweet red fruits) or 'State Fair' (to 4-5 feet tall with bright orange flowers and small edible fruits), though all species can be grown in containers if they are large enough. Choose a container that is at least 10 to 15 gallon size for standard or full-size trees, or a container that is about 5 gallons for smaller dwarf varieties. Ensure that the pot has adequate drainage holes on the bottom to allow for excess water to flow away. Fill with a well-draining potting mix amended with organic material and perlite, and top with a layer of mulch to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water regularly as the plant establishes itself in its new home. Once established, waterings can be lessened. Punica trees grown in containers will need more frequent irrigation than those grown in the ground. As a general rule of thumb, water whenever the top two inches of soil feel dry to the touch. Prune trees and shrubs in late winter to early spring before new growth pushes out. Remove dead or damaged branches as well as any suckers that emerge from the base. Then, open up the interior of the canopy to increase air flow and discourage fungal diseases. Every few years, check the bottom of the pot to ensure that the plant is not outgrowing its root space. If roots are growing through the drainage holes in the bottom of the container, it is a good indication that it needs to be potted up; choose a slightly larger container and repot.

Harvesting Punica
The fruits produced by Pomegranate trees ripen in late summer through fall, depending on the variety and growing conditions of course. Pomegranate trees have low chill hour requirements to produce fruits, typically between 100 and 300 CH. 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. Whole Pomegranate fruits can be stored on the countertop for up to 2 weeks or in the fridge for up to 2 months. Extracted seeds can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for between 5 and 7 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Disclaimer: Information contained on this website is strictly and categorically intended as a reference to be used in conjunction with experts in your area. Foraging and consumption of plant parts should never begin without the guidance and approval of a local plant specialist. The providers of this website accept no liability for the use or misuse of information contained in this website.

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

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.