Ornamental Pomegranates

Punica granatum cultivars

Tough, drought tolerant shrubs or small trees.

Varieties that are grown for their ornamental qualities are likely to produce no fruit or poor quality fruit, so if you want to grow a pomegranate tree for edible fruit, be sure to plant a proper fruiting variety. Look for named varieties (e.g. 'Wonderful') from the fruit tree section of the garden centre or a fruit tree nursery and check the label.

Fruiting varieties are still attractive plants in flower and in fruit, well worth considering for an edible landscape. However, ornamental varieties offer fancier flowers in colours other than the standard red. There is also the very dwarf 'Nana'.

Pomegranates are deciduous and therefore not suitable for screening, but will let extra light into the garden in winter.

Ornamental pomegranates were discussed in greater detail in the 25-02-2022 edition of Get Results Gardening. If you garden in Australia, especially the warmer regions that allow you to grow tropical and subtropical plants, you will find plenty of other useful information in this weekly email publication. Find out how to get a free trial at calyx.com.au/getresultsgardening.html

Ornamental Pomegranates in the Landscape