The Best Pomegranate Trees

Pomegranate trees come in standard or dwarf forms.

Pomegranate trees have been cultivated for thousands of years. They are desirable for their tasty, healthy fruit, which is loaded with antioxidants. With more than 20 cultivars available, it is hard to say which is best. It all depends on the preferences of the home gardener. Still, there are four varieties that stand out as being good producers of excellent fruit.

Early Wonderful and Wonderful

Both of these varieties are very hardy trees. They are vigorous producers also, and bear very juicy, sweet fruit. These trees feature pomegranates that are best for making juice rather than eating straight from the tree, as the seeds are somewhat soft and mushy. Still, this variety is the leading commercial cultivar in California. 'Early Wonderful' has fruit that ripens about two weeks before 'Wonderful', but otherwise they are the same tree.

Sweet

This variety of pomegranate tree is also excellent for making juice. The tree has the added value of being more attractive and productive than many other cultivars. The pomegranates on this tree remain a bit green even when ripe, but the fruit is is very sweet and produces a light pink juice. This cultivar is the sweetest of all the pomegranate trees, making it the best choice for home gardeners who desire sweet pomegranates.

Granada

This variety, which is a mutation of 'Wonderful'. is starting to overtake 'Wonderful' in popularity, according to Purdue University. This is in part due to its attractive appearance in both form and fruit. In addition, the fruit is green with a red top rather than red all over. Finally, 'Granada' ripens almost a month sooner than 'Wonderful' and two weeks earlier than 'Early Wonderful'. Pomegranates can take months to ripen, so early-ripening cultivars such as 'Granada' are desirable to home gardeners who don't want to wait that long.

Dholka

The 'Dholka' pomegranate tree is native to India and grows well in hot, dry climates of the United States such as Arizona and parts of California. The top commercial choice in India, this tree is desirable for the fact that it does not form suckers. In addition, the very large fruit has an attractive, distinctive appearance, being mottled in the colors of yellow, red, dark pink and purple. The tree is evergreen, making it desirable for home gardeners who want year-round visual interest, and the seeds are hard and tasty eaten right from the tree.

References

• University of Illinois: Pomegranate Punica granatum L.; Jennifer Schultz Nelson; Feb. 2006
• Purdue University: Pomegranate; Julia F. Morton; Feb. 2011
• California Rare Fruit Growers Association: Pomegranate