Pomegranate
Punica granatum

Family: Lythraceae

What it is like

A shrub. It grows up to 2-6 m tall. It has short thorns. It can grow up to 10 m tall. Usually trees lose their leaves at one season during the year. The trunk is covered by reddish-brown bark. Trees often sucker near the base. The leaves are opposite, entire and 8 cm x 1.5 cm. Leaves narrow towards the base. It has large scarlet flowers. These are at the ends of branches. 1-3 flowers occur together. The fruit is round, leathery skinned and up to 10 cm across. It is yellow brown in colour. Inside there are angular hard seeds in a juicy yellow pulp. The seeds are 10 mm long. There are many named varieties.

There are 2 Punica species.

Where it is found

A Mediterranean climate plant. It is native from SE Europe to the Himalayas. It suits drier subtropical climates. It suits areas with a long hot dry summer and cool winter. A temperature of 35-38°C is best for good fruit development. A humid climate affects fruit formation. They can tolerate some salinity. It can grow in soils with a wide range of pH. They have borne fruit in Papua New Guinea at 1620 m altitude. They are mostly coastal up to 500 m in the tropics. Trees are severely damaged by temperatures below -11°C. In Brisbane Botanical Gardens. In Nepal they grow to about 2700 m altitude. It grows in the drier parts of West Africa. It can grow in arid places. It grows in Miombo woodland in Africa. It suits hardiness zone 8-11.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Africa, Albania, Algeria, Andaman Is., Andes, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Arabia, Armenia, Aruba, Asia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Balkans, Bangladesh, Belize, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil, Britain, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Canary Is., Cape Verde, Caucasus, Central Africa, Central America, Central Asia, Chad, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo DR, Cook Islands, Croatia, Cuba, Curacao, Dagestan, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Europe, Fiji, France, Georgia, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guam, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, Honduras, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iran (country/location of origin), Iraq, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Laos, Lebanon, Libya, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marquesas, Mauritania, Mediterranean (country/location of origin), Mexico, Middle East, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, New Caledonia, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norfolk Island, North Africa, North America, Northeastern India, NW India, Oman, Pacific, Pakistan, Palestine, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Reunion, Romania, Rotuma, Russia, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, Sri Lanka, St Helena, St Lucia, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tasmania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Trinidad-Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey (country/location of origin), Turkmenistan, Uganda, USA, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, West Timor, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The juicy pulp around the seeds is eaten. The juice can be used for a drink. It provides a red colour. The seeds are dried with their aril and used in the Indian condiment Anardana. The fruit are used in sauces, soups, meat dishes, salads and other dishes. The flowers are eaten. Boiled leaves are also reported as eaten.

Occurs in some areas of Papua New Guinea. It is an important cultivated food plant. It is sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Fruit, seeds, spice, vegetable, flowers

How it is grown

They are easily raised by seed. They are best propagated by layering or grafting but cuttings or root suckers can be used. It can be grown by air-layering. Cuttings root easily. Cuttings 30 to 50 cm long of one year old wood can be used. Pruning of sucker growth and surplus branches is needed. A spacing of 4-5 m is suitable.

Plants grow quickly. Trees bear after about 2-3 years. Fruiting is seasonal. The season tends to be Dec. to May. The tree loses its vigour after about 15 years but trees can live for many years. The pomegranate is self-pollinated as well as cross-pollinated by insects. Cross-pollination increases the fruit set. Fruit matures 5 to 7 months after flowering. Fruit need to be picked when mature to prevent splitting. Fruit do not ripen further after harvesting. Fruit develop a distinctive colour and have a metallic sound when tapped, when they are ripe. A well maintained tree can produce 150-200 fruit in a year.

Its other names

Local names

Ananghorai, Anangori, Anar, Annaaru, Anor, Bakoh, Bedana, Brots'eili, Chimanga cha chizungu, Daaru, Dadam, Dadima, Dahua, Dalemshing, Dalim, Dalima, Dalimba, Dango, Danimma, Daroo, Darooni, Daroye, Daru, Delima, Delum, Delun, Dharek, Divlja sipak, Dulim, Dulima, Enkomamawanga, Gangsalan, Granaatappel, Granada, Granada cordelina, Granada enana, Granado, Granatapgelbaum, Granatno jabolko, Grenade, Hanar, Hennar, Hinar, Hta, Jangali anar, Kalumal, Limoni, Ljuti sipak, Lu'u, Madalai, Madulai, Magraner, Mak-sang, Matalam, Melograna, Melograno, Mkomamanga, Mogranata, Mukomamanga, Nar, Nargos, Nkoma mawanga, Nkomawawanga, Nur, Phila, Remuno, Rimman, Roma, Romazeira, Romeira, Rudi, Salebin, Se-bru, Shi liu pi, Shi liu, Soekryunamu, Tabilin, Tab sim, Thale-thi, Thapthim, Totim, Tuptim, Turchi, Zakuro

Synonyms

Punica nana L.; and several others