Vietnamese Pomegranate

Pomegranates are a Mediterranean species that is generally poorly adapted to Florida. High humidity causes fungal problems which makes for poor fruiting or premature rotting in fruit before full development. Vietnam pomegranate is an exception to this rule, being a variety with a long track record of good performance in Florida. Specimens are even reported to fruit well in muggy Miami-Dade County. Vietnam pomegranate would not be considered a gourmet/choice variety in climates where many varieties can be grown, but it is the best we have for the time being. It is a hard seeded type. Fruit often splits and not all of them ripen perfectly, but perfectly good pomegranates can be harvested from the trees.

Our plants are grown from seed. Generally, named cultivars of pomegranate are grown from air layers or cuttings. This type seems to be an exception in the nursery trade. After speaking with several fruit growers, including a Florida pomegranate specialist, we learned that it is typical to grow this variety from seed and this is often what is offered in nurseries. Trees are known to grow mostly true to type and fruit quickly from seed. For this reason, Vietnam pomegranate should probably be considered a “seedling line” of pomegranate rather than a cultivar. Variation from seed opens up potential for the selection of better or more productive cultivars.

Punica granatum
4 inch potted live plant