Pomegranate Tree Guide: How To ID, Grow Pomegranates Indoors, Plant Care

Image Credit: RichardMc²⁴

What Is a Pomegranate?

If you finally want to grow a tree but are very particular that you want to have one that bears some of the most delicious fruits, look no further than the pomegranate.

This is one tropical fruit that is gaining massive traction all around the world, perhaps that is why you seem to spot it virtually everywhere you go.

The Pomegranate Tree is well known for its vibrant fruits that come in various shades, especially red and orange, and the same goes for its showy flowers. You are sure that it will always stand out wherever you plant it.

What you should remember is that the tree is a tropical species that loves a good soak in the sun. If your state can provide the same conditions then you will have the benefit of a healthy tree with bumper harvest at the end of it all.

It does not come as a surprise that you want one to call your own or even an entire orchard maybe for commercial reasons.

You will love the fact that the tree is disease-resistant and hardy and the fruits have plenty of uses, with some medicinal properties too.

How To Identify Pomegranate Tree (Picture of a Pomegranate)

One of the best things about the Pomegranate Tree is just how it is pretty easy to spot. Anyone looking at it will know exactly what it is.

However, if this is your very first time learning about it, you would want to know what to expect and the sort of tree that you will be growing. Here is how you will be able to identify it.

Pomegranate Tree Leaves

You can spot the leaves of the Pomegranate Tree from a distance, with their glossy, dark green surface.

They are also relatively huge, measuring up to 7 cm long and 2 cm wide.

Pomegranate Tree Flower

Do trees have genders? Well, there is no clear answer to that because some have male flowers, female ones, or even both.

As for the pomegranate, it helps that it has ‘perfect’ flowers meaning that there are both male and female parts in one place.

The blooms are hard to miss, showy and taking shades of red.

Pomegranate Fruit or Granada Fruit

Right after tree pollination has taken place, that is when you can enjoy the fruits of your labor, literally.

The best part about this, though, is that the Pomegranate Tree self-pollinates.

The fruits may be the sole reason for planting the tree in the first place, and you will not regret it.

They appear all over and are showy, taking bright red shades. They have a somewhat spherical yet flat shape and are covered in tough, leathery skin.

Pomegranate Seeds

The nutritious and edible seeds appear in plenty inside the fruit.

They are white and rather tiny on the inside but are covered in bright red or pink flesh that you eat when you split open the fruit.

All About the Pomegranate Seeds (Pomegranate Tree Seeds)

It goes without saying that the pomegranate seeds are the whole point of the fruit because these are the edible parts, just surrounded by the flesh.

(Image: Arjun Kapoor¹⁸)

What’s more, is the fact that they are also highly nutritious and actually have medicinal properties.

How Many Seeds Are in a Pomegranate?

You open up a pomegranate and find several arils inside, leading you to wonder exactly how many seeds are in there.

The number is not constant; it tends to vary for each fruit and each cultivar, but in general, you will likely find anything between 165 and 1,300 seeds in a single fruit. The average range, however, is about 600.⁷

Types of Pomegranate: Pomegranate Varieties

The beauty of nature is the fact that there are countless types of trees, and each has so many cultivars to choose from.

If you have your heart set on planting a pomegranate, you would want to know the various options that you have so that choosing the perfect one will be a breeze.

Being the most common in the country should tell you that you have great chances of growing a happy and healthy one right in your home.

How To Grow a Pomegranate Tree

Now that you know all about pomegranates, it is now time to get to the main business: how you can be able to grow one on your own.

It is not as daunting as you may think; you don’t even need complicated equipment to get started.

There are three main ways you can grow a pomegranate.

 How To Grow Pomegranate From Seed

As with any other fruit tree, planting the pomegranate from its seed is not really a great idea.

Most people start with seedlings or cutting, not just because they are more convenient, but because they give a better shot of actually growing a healthy and strong tree with the best qualities.

You can still start with the seed, but also brace yourself for quite a long wait before you spot fruits.

Now, if you are certain of growing a Pomegranate Tree from a seed, the last thing you want to do is get them from store-bought fruits. You will have to go for nothing less than the most viable, which you can only find in freshly picked fruits.

(Image: Aniol¹⁹)

To plant them, you will have to start them indoors, preferably in winter, so that it becomes easier for them to grow in the spring.¹ Clean, dry them up, and plant them in potting soil at least a ¼ inch deep, watering and caring for them as usual.

Growing a Pomegranate Tree From a Cutting

This is a more convenient method of planting. You should take 6-8 inches of cutting and plant them upright in the soil, but make sure that you leave at least 2-4 nodes above the ground.

The best part about this method is the fact that whatever grows will be true to type, and you actually have a say in choosing the features you want in your tree by picking the best cuttings.

Growing a Pomegranate Tree From a Seedling

This is definitely the easiest way to go, and you can always find a sapling from your local nursery or even online.

What you will have to do is transplant the seedling. First, dig a hole that is at least twice the size of the root ball of the tree.

(Image: Eiku²¹)

Next, take the seedling, stretch out the roots, and place it in the middle, backfilling and gently pressing down on the soil. Water, mulch and you should be good to go.

How To Grow Pomegranate in Pots (Growing Pomegranate Bonsai Indoors)

Are you a fan of types of bonsai trees (indoor) and can’t wait to grow the pomegranate as one? Then you will need a few tips to get started.

But first, you should know that a tropical tree like the pomegranate loves the full sun, and you will have to be very careful growing it indoors because it will be craving full sunlight.

Apart from that, if you are choosing a container for your tree, just make sure that it is well draining and of the right material.¹²

All you have to do is to find the perfect potting mix that the tree will grow in, check the soil and fertility levels and plant the pomegranate inches deep, watering and caring for it as usual.

The only catch is that you will have to find a well-lit spot for the tree so that it will be able to soak in more sun and grow strong and healthy.

Tips For Planting Pomegranate Tree

If this is your first time trying to plant a tree, it is understandable that you want everything to be perfect, and it starts by learning all the planting tips for Pomegranate Tree and the tricks that will make everything work out in your favor.

How Far Apart To Plant Pomegranate Tree

If you are considering planting the tree in an orchard, you will have to leave at least a 3-5-meter space in between columns and 4-6 meters for rows.

On the other hand, if you want to grow Pomegranate Trees to form a sort of hedge, you will need them to be 2-3 meters apart for the suckers to grow and fill in the spaces between.

When To Plant Pomegranate Tree for the Best Yield

A mistake that you never want to make when planting the pomegranate is not letting the last frost pass. If not, your tree will suffer in the freezing cold and that will definitely affect its growth.

However, if you are planning to plant one indoors, you can do that at any time of the year, and winter is even more preferable because the tree will be already established by the time you transfer it outdoors.

Companion Plants for Growing Pomegranate Tree

The pomegranate is pretty friendly with so many trees, and there is a pretty long list of the ones that would make perfect companion plants. But most people prefer pairing them with either flowers or herbs.

(Image: Gerwin Sturm²³)

The best options include blueberries, chamomile, basil, dill, mint, parsley, marigolds, elderberries, lemongrass, garlic, celery, and strawberries. You can also try a Sage Tree, a Blackberry Tree, Raspberry Tree, or a Lavender Tree.

Requirements for Growing Pomegranate

Of course, you want to give your pomegranate an easy time growing because you know that it will reward you come harvest time. So, the best growing conditions for Pomegranate Trees will come in handy, and here is how you make sure of that.

Watering Needs for Pomegranate Tree Plants

Watering a tree, especially drought tolerant trees like the pomegranate must be easy. But still, you only want the best yield and that is why you will have to water deep at least once every 2-4 weeks depending on the prevailing conditions.³

How Much Sunlight Does Pomegranate Tree Need Each Day?

It is true that the pomegranate is able to grow under partial sunlight, but for nothing but the best yield, you would rather not risk it and provide as much sun exposure as possible; at least 6 hours every single day will be enough.

What Is the Best Type of Soil for the Pomegranate?

It is fantastic that the tree is able to grow in various types of soils but generally, it must be well draining to avoid water logging that causes a number of complications.⁸

Pomegranate Tree Care

The care and maintenance of your Pomegranate Tree basically start the moment you have your tree in the ground.

This is a compilation of the tasks you absolutely have to do weekly or sometimes twice a year to make sure that your tree grows to be tall and healthy all the way to maturity.

How To Prune Pomegranate Tree

One thing to brace yourself for is that your tree will more than likely produce a lot of suckers that you will have to remove immediately after they show up.

What if you don’t?

Then you will have to deal with a tree that grows way out of control and extremely widespread. In some cases, this may affect its overall growth.

You want to prune as often as possible, especially within the first years and that will help with rapid growth and bumper harvests.

Mulching Around Trees

Many people prefer mulching around trees because not only does it preserve the moisture level, but it is also a clever way to keep off weeds.

Doing that for your tree will end up boosting its overall growth.

Adding Fertilizer to the Soil

For the best results, you want to consider fertilizing only twice a year; maybe in November and March. But then again, this is only for the initial two years.

After that, your Pomegranate Tree will be fine with very little fertilizer, and as a matter of fact, going overboard may actually cause complications.

Pomegranate Tree Winter Care

As you can easily tell by the native habitat of the pomegranate, it is a tree that thrives better when the weather is warm. It loves the sun so much and that is why it may be a problem if your region experiences extreme winters because your tree may not make it.

Generally, if you want to plant during winter, for the tree to have germinated by spring, you should start indoors and later transplant when the temperatures are warmer.

Otherwise, if your tree is already outside, the best thing that you can possibly do for it is to fully cover it up with something like a horticultural fleece or anything that will be able to shut out the extreme cold.

How Long Do Pomegranates Take To Grow: Pomegranate Tree Growth Rate

It is very important to know basically how long does it take for a tree to grow, especially for fruit trees, which you need to patiently wait for to mature.

Maybe you want to know what it means to plant the pomegranate and whether the wait will not be too long because that is a deal breaker for many first-timers.

Generally, the Pomegranate Tree has a medium growth rate, and more often than not, you will likely wait just 2-3 years for your fruits.⁵ However, note that the growth rate may vary because of the current conditions.

Pomegranate Tree Growing Zone (Where Do Pomegranates Grow?)

If you’re wondering about the growing zones for Pomegranate Tree, where to grow them for the best yield is pretty easy to determine.⁹

No one wants to grow a tree that will struggle or fail to grow as it is supposed to, right? So, which growing zones are perfect for the pomegranate?

If you want to grow a healthy and happy fruit tree, you should make sure that your region lies within the USDA zones 7, 8, 9, and all through 10.

The prevailing temperatures in these regions offer the best conditions for your pomegranate. Any lower is too cold, and higher is too hot.

Which Pests Attack a Pomegranate Farm?

Now that you know just about everything that you should as a prospective Pomegranate Tree farmer, the next issue to address is the kind of problems that you should expect.

There are only a few common pests of the Pomegranate Tree that you should always be on the lookout for to avoid losing your tree.

(Image: David O.¹³)

The tree is not as vulnerable to pests as others are, but you should be aware of deadly insects like the Pomegranate Butterfly, thrips, mealy bugs, scale, white flies, leaf roller caterpillars, leaf-footed bugs, and of course, aphids.

These are the insects that are always drawn to the tasty leaves and fruits of your pomegranate and can potentially ruin your entire harvest. This is why they have to be eradicated immediately after you spot them.

Remedies for Pomegranate Tree Pests

Pesticides may work, especially when talking about severe infestations. The only problem is that this means exposing your tree to so many chemicals you really don’t have to, especially if there is natural pest control for Pomegranate Trees.

They are simple and straightforward, cheaper, and most importantly, safer for not just your tree but also the environment around you.

Many homeowners have mastered the art of creating a soap dish mixed with herbs to create the most economically friendly pest repellent, and it works great for low infestations. Apart from that, you can also opt for wrapping up the fruits with bags to prevent access.

Pomegranate Diseases To Look Out For

Just imagine diligently caring for your pomegranate for years, making sure that you will reap big when harvest time draws near, but then your hopes are thwarted because your tree gets sick, and in the worst-case scenario, dies afterward. All the time, effort, and money invested down the drain.

This is why it is very important to find out which diseases are the most likely to attack the pomegranate and how to stop them from escalating and being lethal.

(Image: Kabomani-Tapir²²)

So, which are some of these diseases that keep terrorizing pomegranate farmers?

• Fruit and Leaf Spot (bacterial): This one is easy to detect because you will see dark spots on your fruits or leaves that later end up causing them to drop before their time.
• Anthracnose: This one kind of manifests like the above disease, but the difference is that the spots come in various shapes and sizes, and the leaves turn yellow before they fall off.
• Fusarium Wilt: This is another deadly one that causes the parts of the tree to discolor, die and drop.¹⁰ There is also a very high chance that the tree will also die off in a few months or up to a year.⁴

Pomegranate Tree Disease Prevention

Knowing that there are bacterial and fungal diseases out there that could possibly attack your tree, you want to make sure that you are a step ahead, and even in cases beyond your control where the tree is already infected, you will want to know how to stop Pomegranate Tree disease.

First things first, how do you keep these diseases at bay?

There are so many precautionary measures that you can take to protect your Pomegranate Trees. First, ensure that you properly space them out.

By doing so, you will be sure that an affected tree will not find it easy to infect others. Regular pruning also gives you a chance to monitor your tree for any signs of illnesses or anything of the sort.

On the other hand, if what you are dealing with is infected trees, you will have to start by removing the affected parts, the fruits, and the leaves. In addition to that, you can also use fungicides and any other remedy, but be careful that the diseases do not spread to more trees.

(Image: Robert Anasch²⁰)

Looking for a tree that serves all your needs, from providing shade to fruits and having ornamental value?

The pomegranate is definitely a top choice for you.

And it doesn’t matter whether you are a first-timer or not, planting it is easy and so rewarding at the end of it all. In only 2-3 years, you will be able to reap the fruits.

Origin of Pomegranate

You must be wondering, where on earth did the incredible pomegranate come from?

The tree is believed to have grown in the Middle East, from the regions of Persia, the region that is now called Iran.

Did you know that it might be one of the oldest to grow in the present day? This is if the evidence dating the origins of the fruit is right.

According to research, the growth of Pomegranate Trees can be dated as far back as 3,000 BCE.⁶ Ancient pieces of art only go to show that the fruit was used in so many cultures all across countries like Egypt, Rome, Persia, Greece, and even China.

So valuable was it that it was also used as a symbol of luxury in countries like India.

Fast forward to the modern world, and you are now very likely to find so many of them growing in various regions far away from their native habitat. They are now not only in the Middle East, but also in North Africa, and Central and Southeast Asia.

Pomegranate Tree Symbolism and Spiritual Meaning of Pomegranate

Now that the pomegranate is growing in various parts of the world, it does not come as a surprise that there is quite a lot of tree symbolism attached to it, especially based on various religions and cultures.

For one, its evergreen nature made the Romans and the Greeks rightfully label it as a symbol of strength, longevity, and of course, eternal life.

Having so many seeds in the fruit also made it a symbol of fertility, hence, the abundance of ancient decorative pieces, pottery, or containers fashioned in their likeness such as this Greek clay perfume bottle from the 6th century BC pictured below.

On the other hand, Persians tend to believe that the fruit has some sort of magical powers.

There’s one more deep meaning to the tree—some Christians are pretty certain that it is the very same one from the Book of Genesis, that is: the tree of life itself.

Pomegranate Tree Facts (Punica granatum)

The Pomegranate Tree (Punica granatum) is a pretty interesting tree. If you are just learning about it or want to know some fun facts that you can end up sharing with your friends, here is a compilation of things you should probably know.

• Even though pomegranate fruits are literally called apples, they are technically berries.
• Pomegranates first came to the US through Spanish traders and travelers in the middle of the 1700s.
• It is interesting how the tree was held in such high regard all over the world in various places. Pharaohs in Egypt and the wealthy in India used it as a symbol of luxury.
• The bright shades on the pomegranate fruit and flowers came in handy for making dye and cosmetics in ancient times.
• The fruits have medicinal properties and are definitely a rich source of vitamins.

You can either grow a single one or a couple for your personal use or go big and start an orchard.

But either way, the Pomegranate Tree is one of the easiest to maintain and drought tolerant fruit trees that you will ever come across.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pomegranate Tree