Types Of Pomegranate Trees

Choosing the right fruit tree for your space is exciting. If you’re considering a pomegranate, you’ll be happy to know there are many types of pomegranate trees to suit different climates and tastes. This guide will help you pick the perfect variety, whether you want sweet fruit, stunning flowers, or a compact plant for a pot.

Pomegranates are surprisingly tough and drought-tolerant once established. They offer beautiful scarlet blooms and glossy fruit. With so many cultivars available, you can find one that thrives in your garden.

Pomegranate varieties are generally grouped by their primary use: sweet eating, tart juicing, ornamental beauty, or dwarf habits. Understanding these categories is the first step to choosing your tree.

Sweet Eating Varieties

These pomegranates have soft, chewable arils (the juicy seed sacs) with a high sugar content. They are perfect for eating fresh out of hand.

Wonderful: The most common commercial variety. It has deep red skin and arils with a classic sweet-tart flavor. It’s vigorous and reliable in hot climates.
Eversweet: True to its name, this one is very sweet with almost no tartness. Its juice is clear, not staining, and it ripens earlier than many others.
Parfianka: A top-tier variety known for its incredible sweetness and soft seeds. The skin is pinkish-red, and it’s highly rated for flavor.
Sweet: Another accurately named type, it produces large, pink-skinned fruit with very sweet, dark red arils that are tender and easy to eat.

Tart Juicing & Cooking Varieties

These cultivars have a bold, tangy flavor that stands up well in cooking, sauces, and juices. The arils are often more vibrant.

Granada: Similar to ‘Wonderful’ but often considered to have a richer, more complex flavor. It’s excellent for both juicing and fresh eating if you like some zip.
Girkanets: An heirloom variety prized for its intense, wine-like flavor and deep red juice. It’s a favorite for making traditional grenadine.
Salavatski: Known for its extreme cold hardiness (down to about 5°F) and its tart, flavorful juice. A great choice for gardeners in cooler regions.

Ornamental & Double-Flowering Varieties

Some pomegranates are grown primarily for their spectacular, long-lasting flowers, though they may also produce small fruit.

Chico: Also sold as ‘State Fair’, this is a dense, dwarf shrub covered in large orange-red double flowers. It’s ideal for small spaces and containers.
Flore Pleno: A purely ornamental variety that produces stunning, carnation-like double flowers in a vibrant orange-red. It rarely, if ever, sets fruit.
Legrellei: Features showy double flowers with white and red striped petals. It’s a striking ornamental plant for the landscape.

Dwarf & Container Varieties

Perfect for patios, small yards, or growing in pots that can be moved for winter protection.

Nana: A true dwarf pomegranate, typically staying under 3 feet tall. It produces tiny ornamental fruit and is often grown as a bonsai subject.
Provence: A cold-hardy French variety that also does well in containers. It has a bushy habit and produces good-sized, sweet-tart fruit.
State Fair: As mentioned, this is another excellent compact choice, maxing out around 4-5 feet, with prolific flowering.

How to Choose the Right Variety for Your Garden

Picking the best pomegranate involves more than just flavor preference. You need to match the tree to your local conditions and your goals.

Consider Your Climate

Most pomegranates thrive in USDA Hardiness Zones 7-10, but some are tougher. Check your zone first.

Hot & Arid (Zones 8-10): Almost all varieties will succeed here. ‘Wonderful’, ‘Eversweet’, and ‘Granada’ are top performers.
Cooler & Humid (Zones 7-8): Choose varieties with better fungal resistance and earlier ripening. ‘Salavatski’, ‘Provence’, and ‘Sweet’ are good options. Ensure excelent air circulation.
Cold Climates (Zone 6/7 with protection): Select the most cold-hardy types like ‘Salavatski’, ‘Russian 26’, or ‘Afganski’. Planting in a sheltered, south-facing spot or using containers is wise.

Assess Your Space

Standard pomegranate trees can grow 12-15 feet tall and wide. Dwarf varieties stay under 6 feet.

Large Garden: You can plant a full-sized tree like ‘Wonderful’ or multiple varieties for a longer harvest.
Small Garden or Patio: Opt for a dwarf variety like ‘Nana’, ‘State Fair’, or ‘Provence’ grown in a container.
Ornamental Focus: Choose a double-flowering type like ‘Flore Pleno’ or ‘Legrellei’ for a stunning focal point.

Define Your Purpose

What do you want from your tree?

Fresh Eating: Prioritize sweet, soft-seeded types (‘Parfianka’, ‘Eversweet’, ‘Sweet’).
Juicing & Cooking: Look for tart, juicy, deeply colored varieties (‘Girkanets’, ‘Granada’).
Low Maintenance: Stick with widely adapted, disease-resistant cultivars like ‘Wonderful’.

Planting and Basic Care for Your Pomegranate Tree

Once you’ve chosen your variety, proper planting and care will ensure a healthy, productive tree for years.

Planting Steps

Timing: Plant in the spring after the last frost, or in early fall in warm climates.
Location: Choose the sunniest spot possible—at least 6-8 hours of direct sun daily. Soil must be well-draining.
Planting Hole: Dig a hole twice as wide and just as deep as the root ball. Loosen the soil around the sides.
Placement: Set the tree in the hole so the top of the root ball is level with the ground. Backfill with native soil, gently firming it down.
Watering: Water deeply immediately after planting to settle the soil. Create a small berm around the base to hold water.

Essential Care Tips

Watering: Water deeply once a week during the first year. Established trees are very drought-tolerant but produce better fruit with consistent moisture.
Fertilizing: Feed in late winter and early summer with a balanced fertilizer. Avoid over-fertilizing, which can reduce fruiting.
Pruning: Prune in late winter to shape the tree and remove suckers. Pomegranates fruit on short spurs on older wood, so avoid over-pruning.
Harvesting: Fruit is ready when it has developed full color and makes a metallic sound when tapped. Use pruning shears to cut the stem; don’t pull.

Common Questions About Pomegranate Trees

How long does it take for a pomegranate tree to bear fruit?

Most trees will begin to produce a few fruit in their second or third year after planting. You can expect a reasonable harvest by year 4 or 5. Dwarf and ornamental types may fruit sooner but in smaller quantities.

Can I grow a pomegranate tree from a seed?

Yes, but the resulting tree will not be true to the parent variety. It may take 5+ years to fruit, and the quality is unpredictable. For a specific type of pomegranate, it’s best to purchase a grafted tree from a nursery.

Are pomegranate trees self-pollinating?

Almost all common varieties are self-fruitful, meaning they do not require a second tree for pollination. However, cross-pollination by insects can sometimes increase fruit set and size.

Why is my pomegranate tree not flowering or fruiting?

Common reasons include not enough sun, too much nitrogen fertilizer (promotes leaves, not flowers), over-pruning, or the tree being to young. Insufficient winter chill in mild climates can also sometimes be a factor for some varieties.

What pests and diseases affect pomegranates?

They are relatively trouble-free. Watch for leaf-footed bugs and aphids. The main disease is heart rot, which enters through the blossom end of the fruit; proper watering and thinning can help. Good air circulation prevents most fungal issues.

With so many wonderful types of pomegranate trees available, there’s a perfect match for nearly every gardener. By considering your climate, space, and taste, you can select a variety that will provide beauty and delicious fruit for many seasons to come. Remember to give it plenty of sun and well-drained soil, and your patience will be rewarded with a hardy, attractive, and productive tree.