How to Grow Pomegranate Trees

Can you imagine being the first person to stumble upon a pomegranate growing in the wild? What must they have thought, when they found those odd globes hanging from the branches just overhead?

When I think about all of the history that has come before us, especially in the botanical world, my imagination runs wild!

I can’t help but think of those who came before us, spotting a curious new plant, and bringing it home to their family or colleagues to ponder over it.

Maybe it would be delicious. Or maybe it would prove deadly.

We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission.

I know I would’ve been eager to figure out what lay inside of it! How fortunate that our forebears sampled this once-wild fruit, with its one-of-a-kind shape, and its inner chambers bursting with nutritious, juicy gems.

That discovery has led to thousands of years of cultivation, with the pomegranate making the rounds from one continent to another as growing numbers of gardeners, orchardists, and hungry people discovered its beauty and its unique flavor.

In this guide, we’ll cover how to grow and care for your own pomegranates. Here’s what’s ahead:

Before you plant those seeds or purchase plants, it’s helpful to take some time to learn about where pomegranates come from and what conditions are ideal for their health, growth, and productivity.

In 1725, the species was named Punica granatumby Carl Linnaeus, the Swedish “father of taxonomy,” which translates to “many-seeded apple” or “grainy apple.”

The list of common names for the fruit includes seeded apple, the apple of Grenada, and the French pomme-grenade, which is