Plant family: Lythraceae ( formerly Punicaceae)
Plant origin: South Eastern Europe, Northern Africa and Asia.
Fruit description: A White Pomegranate has an attractive red skin, and is large, average 15cm across. As the fruit ripens in late March to June, the colour of the skin gradually turns from green to a red. The skin is about 7mm thick and is inedible. The creamy-coloured spongy pulp contains hundreds of small seeds, each surrounded by a white capsule (aril) full of delicious juice. You eat the seeds with the flesh, mainly for the juice and flavour of their surrounding flesh. White Pomegranate have a white flesh which is very sweet, and the seeds are soft to eat.
Flowers: The flowers are beautiful, bright orange or red, bell-shaped, with 5 or 6 strong petals, 3cm wide, produced in Spring and Summer.
Growing conditions: The Pomegranate tree is a very attractive, deciduous, hardy bush. It grows to about 3 metres. It makes a lovely ornamental as it has bright green and red glossy foliage, which turns gold in Autumn. New leaves in Spring are a red-bronze colour. Pomegranate bushes make a very attractive hedge. They grow well in a pot. It is a very adaptable plant which is tolerant to frost, cold, heat, wind and drought. It prefers hot dry Summers and cool or cold Winters. Plant the tree in deep loamy soil. For a Pomegranate hedge, plant the trees about 2 metres apart. Water the tree well in summer. Prune lightly in Winter. Pomegranates make a beautiful bonsai specimen as it is hardy, and has lovely flowers and attractive stems and leaves.
Uses: Eat the flesh and seeds fresh. Use the seeds as a gorgeous garnish on salads, Middle Eastern sweet and savoury dishes. You can extract Pomegranate juice by pressing the seeds and flesh on a strainer, to separate the seeds from the juice. The juice is sweet and very colourful. The flesh is used in the cooking of India, and Middle Eastern countries. Granadine is syrup made from the fermented juice, which is used in cordials, cocktails, confectionery and preserves. Tannins from the rind and flowers can be used for staining leather.
Medicinal uses: Pomegranates have strong antioxidant properties, and are rich in vitamins C and B5. It is extensively used in Indian Ayurvedic medicine. The rind and flowers can be used as astringents.
Pollination requirements: Self-Pollinating.
Harvest time Pick the fruit when it is fully ripe in Autumn. Ripeness is indicated by the full colour of the skin, which will eventually split and expose the flesh and seeds.
Plant relatives
Special features: In Hindu, Jewish and Christian tradition, the Pomegranate is a symbol of fertility, hope and eternity. According to the Koran, pomegranates grow in the garden of paradise.
Grown by method: Cutting Grown Pot size: 125mm
Plant growing Height and Width for pots or in the ground planting: Grows to 2.5 metres high by 2 metres wide if Planted in a Pot. Grows 3 metres high by 2.5 metres wide if Planted in the Ground.
Shipping plant pot or planter bag size: 125mm
