Punica granatum

Punica granatum, Pomegranate - a well-known fruit but the plant itself is not grown as often as it could be in the UK. A tough deciduous shrub to small tree, Pomegrantes are hardy down to at least -12C and in many parts of the country they will go lower. For best growth a warm and sunny aspect is required, perhaps in the shelter of a building or ideally up against a stone or brick wall that will radiate heat back to the plant, help ripen the fruit and protect it from any extreme sub-zero event. As warmer weather patterns have become more usual it has become possible in many UK counties - including in some of the colder inland locations - to get mature Pomegranates to achieve crops of good-sized fruits.

Punica granatum is a fast growing plant with lots of irregular offshoots and side branches. During winter when its gorgeous foliage has long since turned yellow and fallen off it can look somewhat forlorn but once the weather warms up again new-growth is rapid. Pruning and shaping - such as it should ever be necessary - is best left to the Spring when this new growth is visble and you can get more of a sense of what you want the plant to look like. Young plants are best grown in terra-cotta containers so the can moved around as necessary before planting out into a more permanent position when their trunks have thicker wood.

Punica granatum likes a rich loamy soil with plenty of grit and gravel for good drainage. It is very drought-tolerant but appreciates regular watering during the growing months as long as it never becomes water-logged. It will flower throughout the summer and its delicate vermillion/red blooms are a stunning contrast to its glossy foliage.