Punica granatum - Pomegranate

The Pomegranate Bush (Punica granatum) is a typical bush of the Mediterranean region, producing large juicy fruits in autumn, to be enjoyed in sweet or savory dishes. It offers highly decorative, bright orange-red flowers throughout the summer. It requires a lot of heat to bear fruit. Planting can be done throughout the year (except during frost), but preferably in autumn, for a harvest from September to December starting from the 4^th or 5^th year.

Pomegranates are round fruits, about the size of an apple, with a hard skin that turns orange-red when ripe. The interior is made up of thick white membranes, containing multiple seeds surrounded by a very juicy red pulp. It is these fleshy grains, called arils, that are consumed. Of course, pomegranate is used to make the famous grenadine syrup, but it is also consumed as juice, sorbet, in pastries, fruit salads, mixed salads, or as an accompaniment to poultry, for example. Rich in antioxidants and vitamins, pomegranate is a refreshing fruit with a slightly sour and sweet taste. It is harvested in autumn, about 4 to 5 months after flowering. Pick the fruits when the skin turns red and just begins to crack. Pomegranate does not ripen after harvest but can be stored for several months in a cool place. The first fruits appear on the bush from the 4^th or 5^th year.

Originally from India, the Pomegranate Bush (Punica granatum) belongs to the family of Punicaceae (Lythraceae). It is a self-fertile variety. From May to September, it offers large, highly ornamental, single trumpet-shaped flowers, of a bright orange-red. They will be followed in autumn by large juicy fruits, turning orange-red when ripe.

Cultivated since antiquity, it is a bush with a long lifespan, able to live up to 200 years, with slow growth. It has a spreading bushy habit with opposite lanceolate leaves. Slightly red and then shiny green in summer, they take on a beautiful coppery yellow colour in autumn before falling. The Pomegranate Bush will reach a height of about 5 m (16 ft 5 in). It can be planted in a flower bed, as a standalone plant, in an informal hedge, or in a pot. Hardy down to -15°C (5 °F), it requires a lot of heat.