Best Pomegranates To Grow in Your Backyard
I have literally dozens of fruit plants but if I had to pick favorites, my pomegranate trees would definitely make the top of the list. In fact, the very first tree I planted in my backyard was a pomegranate. They are low maintenance, incredibly tasty and super healthy.
Table of Contents
Background
Where Do Pomegranates Come From?
Pomegranates are thought to have originated in and are native to countries in the Middle East and Central Asia, including Iran, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan.
The official name for this plant is Punica Granatum, which literally means seeded apple. Pomegranates resemble red apples. (The name has an interesting history. It came to English by way of Old French pome grenate. In Modern French, the word pomme still means apple.)
How Are Pomegranates Grown?
Although pomegranates are still grown widely in their native region, the fruit has global reach. In the United States, California has become a leading producer of pomegranates.
Pomegranates can tolerate a variety of soils and pH levels. Although they are deciduous, chill hours are on the low end, typically between 100 to 300 hours.
They are extremely drought tolerant and once established require relatively little water. Care must be taken not to overwater. Pomegranates enjoy dry, hot summers and grow best in hardiness zones 8 to 10.
Are Pomegranates Good for You?
Absolutely! Pomegranates are widely considered a superfood and pomegranate juice has become popular among health-conscious consumers.
This fruit is rich in dietary fiber, vitamins and anti-oxidants but also low in saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium.
On the other hand, given that they are very sweet, pomegranates have relatively high sugar content.
Overindulging in pomegranates is thus not recommended. As with any fruit, moderation is key.
Popular Varieties of Pomegranate
Wonderful Pomegranate
The Wonderful pomegranate (Punica granatum ‘Wonderful’) is the most popular variety of pomegranate in the United States. It’s the one you are most likely to find in grocery stores.
Plant it in full sun. The tree is very drought tolerant but be sure to water regularly in the first year.
The average size at maturity is 8 to 10 ft tall and wide.
Wonderful is cold hardy down to 30 to 2 degrees F. It is not hardy in zones 1 – 8.
Fertilize in early spring. The tree blossoms in summer and produces fruit in the fall.
The fruit can be eaten fresh but is also popular for juicing.
Angel Red Pomegranate
The Angel Red pomegranate (officially Punica granatum ‘Smith’) is a newer variety of pomegranate.
It starts to blossom in early spring or early summer. And it’s ready for harvesting in early fall, almost a month earlier than Wonderful, and it’s known for its soft seeds.
Because it has very soft seeds, it is easy to chew and eat fresh.
Angel Red grows at a moderate pace and reaches 10 ft tall and wide at maturity.
This cultivar is hardy down to USDA zones 7 to 11.
Parfianka Pomegranate
The Parfianka pomegranate is supposed to be one of the tastiest pomegranates.
Sometimes called a Russian pomegranate because of the name, it was actually found by Dr. Gregory Levin in Turkmenistan, a former Soviet republic in Central Asia.
It matches Wonderful in taste but has softer seeds.
Parfianka grows 10ft tall and wide at maturity.
Like many other pomegranate varieties, it’s ready to harvest in the fall.
Parfianka grows well in hardiness zones 8 – 10.
Grenada Pomegranate
You could be excused if you mistook the Grenada pomegranate for an older cultivar based on its name but it is actually a bud sport of Wonderful.
Its main advantage over Wonderful is that it ripens about a month earlier.
The fruit is darker and the taste is somewhat less tart.
Grenada grows 8 to 12 ft tall at maturity.
It is hardy between USDA zones 7 – 11.
Eversweet Pomegranate
The Eversweet pomegranate was developed in California and it really stands out for a number of reasons.
Unlike the majority of pomegranate cultivars, Eversweet does not stain and it is mostly seedless.
As the name suggests, it’s also an incredibly sweet type of pomegranate.
Eversweet grows 8 to 10 ft tall at maturity.
It does well in USDA zones 8 to 10.
Eversweet pomegranates are ready to be harvested in late summer through fall.
Ariana Pomegranate
The Ariana pomegranate cultivar was brought over by Dr. Gregory Levin from Turkmenistan, alongside other cultivars such as Parfianka.
It grows 10 to 12 ft tall at maturity.
Ariana is hardy between USDA zones 7 to 10.
This type of pomegranate has soft seeds and a sweet taste.
It is ready to harvest in the fall.
Ariana is consistently rated as one of the top pomegranates in taste tests.
Photo Tour of Pomegranate Trees in My Backyard
My Wonderful Pomegranate Tree
My Angel Red Pomegranate Tree
My Parfianka Pomegranate Tree
My Grenada Pomegranate Tree
My Ariana Pomegranate
My Eversweet Pomegranate
Why Pomegranates Make the Best Fruit Trees
If you live in California, especially Southern California, or any other region with a Mediterranean climate, then pomegranates are absolutely worth it.
Pomegranates tend to be one of the most expensive fruits you can buy in the grocery store but they are extremely easy to grow when you have the right climate.
What’s more, they are adapted to drought conditions and require relatively little water and care. They are as low maintenance as can be and thrive on neglect.