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Pomegranates appear in some death-defying settings, from the Queen of the Darkness to military armaments.
But this fruit isn’t entirely gloomy! In fact, it can be quite sweet, with some varieties that are even better.
Pomegranates appear to be a frightening fruit. Breaking through the tough skin to get to the juicy, ruby-red seeds is worth the effort because the seeds contain numerous health benefits.
Did you know that pomegranates came in different varieties, well this article will discuss the different varieties of pomegranates.
Pomegranate Varieties
Because you are already aware that pomegranates come in a variety of flavors and varieties, we have discussed 9 different pomegranates and some characteristics that distinguish them from the others below.
1. Pink Texas
Texas Pink is a lovely tree with an upright, vigorous growth habit. The dark green, glossy foliage contrasts beautifully with the bright red flowers, reaching 10 to 15 feet tall at maturity and spreading eight to ten feet.
The deep pink pomegranates, which are ready to harvest around October, have pink to red juicy soft arils with a sweet and slightly tart flavor.
Punica granatum ‘Texas Pink’ growing in the garden, with a close-up square image on a green soft focus background.
‘Texas Pink’
Its erect habit adds a nice decorative element to the landscape or when pruned for size in containers.
2. Surh Anor
Surh Anor, another Russian type, is also known as a “white” pomegranate. This cultivar’s fruits can range from pale yellow to pinkish-red, with arils that are virtually transparent to pale pink and soft to medium in texture.
Pomegranates ripen in late October but can continue to ripen into December in locations where winter lows do not fall below 60°F.
The fully ripened fruit is said to have a sweeter flavor than some of the darker-fruited cultivars, with a slight tartness. The arils contain seeds that can be quite tough.
While these trees can tolerate temperatures below freezing, immature fruits cannot and will be destroyed if they freeze solid.
3. Kazake
If you want a cultivar that can withstand colder winter temperatures and recover in the spring, the Russian ‘Kazake’ cultivar is the one for you!
This variety can withstand temperatures as low as -5°F in the winter. Potted plants can be grown as far north as Zone 4 if they can be moved to a protected area if lower temperatures are expected.
This variety has a compact growing habit and will only reach six to eight feet in maturity, making it ideal for small spaces. It’s also an excellent choice for container growing because it doesn’t require as much pruning for size as some of the larger options.
The deep orange blooms mature into medium to big fruits ranging from yellow-orange to light crimson in the spring and summer.
Because of its compact size, this variety can be used to create a beautiful and productive hedgerow.
Ripe pomegranates, which are picked between September and October, feature sweet-tart arils that are deep crimson and medium-grained, but the seeds are known to be very hard.
4. Purple Heart
If you live in a region where temperatures do not drop dramatically in the fall, Purple Heart is a good choice. This variety bears fruit that is usually ready for harvest in mid-to-late October.
While the tree can withstand temperatures as low as 20°F, the fruit may not develop in time to be gathered before the weather plunges, potentially resulting in crop loss.
Fruits that freeze solid are likely to be ruined.
Purple Heart, also known as ‘Sharp Velvet,’ is a larger cultivar with an average height of 16 to 20 feet and a similar spread.
Size can be controlled with regular pruning, but it’s better suited to areas with plenty of growing space.
5. Red Silk
The dwarf growing habit of Red Silk makes it an excellent choice for small space gardens or yards. At maturity, it can grow to be six to eight feet tall.
It’s great for growing in containers or smaller gardens, and despite its small size, this cultivar may be a big producer.
Red Silk will produce enormous red blossoms and medium to large red fruits with medium to hard deep pink arils.
Pomegranates are normally available for harvest between August and September. Their flavor is evocative of red berries, with a sweet-tart balance.
6. Salavatski
Salavatski, a Russian variety also known as Russian Red is one of the most popular bonsai varieties. This cultivar has a reputation for being extremely cold-resistant, withstanding temperatures as low as 0°F when tested.
The plants only grow to be eight to twelve feet tall with a spread of eight to ten feet, allowing them to be readily managed for compactness and to fit into tiny spaces neatly.
Throughout the spring and summer, they produce an abundance of bright orange flowers, which are followed by large, orange-red pomegranates.
Fruits contain semi-sweet, deep red, juicy arils with a hard texture, similar to store-bought pomegranates. Typically, they ripen between September and October.
7. Tom red
Tom’s Red is one of the first varieties to ripen in the early season.
Fruits are typically ready to harvest in early fall, ahead of some of the other varieties, so if you live in an area where cooler fall temperatures are a concern, this could be a good option for you.
Tom’s Red can be expected to produce bright, stunning red blossoms and enormous dark red pomegranates with pinkish-red arils.
The arils are soft to medium in texture and have a sweet flavor with a hint of tartness, making them ideal for juicing.
At maturity, this cultivar can reach heights of 12 to 15 feet and spreads about the same, but it is easily pruned to a smaller size.
8. Eversweet
Eversweet, one of the sweetest types to grow at home, is a wonderful choice for individuals who live in milder climates where pomegranates may not fully ripen before harvest, as even immature fruits have a sweet flavor.
With a six- to eight-foot spread when trimmed as a shrub or pruned into tree form, this eight- to 12-foot plant is well suited for garden or container growing.
Healthy specimens will produce a profusion of red-orange blossoms in the spring and summer, followed by fruits that are normally available to harvest between August and October.
Pomegranates are huge and pink to pale crimson in color, with pinkish, nearly translucent arils and extremely little inner seeds.
- Wonderful
With Wonderful,’ the type most commonly found in grocery stores, we’ve come to the end of our list of recommended cultivars.
‘Wonderful’ can reach a height of 10 to 15 feet and a spread of 6 to 10 feet. It is a prolific producer, which has made it the preferred variety of commercial growers in the United States for many years.
This large tree or shrub has crimson-red blooms in the spring and summer, and large red fruits that are ready to harvest between September and October.
Fruits contain rich red arils with a firm texture and a sweet-tart, berry-like flavor.
Which Pomegranate Is Best White Or Red?
In terms of colour, dark coloured fruits are always better. White pomegranates are high in fiber and a good source of potassium, as well as vitamins B5 and C. It tastes more juicy and sweet than the other variety, which has a more tart flavor.
Color is essential: A ripe pomegranate’s skin should be a brilliant or dark crimson color. The darker and deeper the color of your fruit, the sweeter it will be.
Lighter colors, such as pink or salmon, usually indicate that the fruit is underripe and tart.
How Do You Keep A Pomegranate Tree Small?
If you want to increase the number of exterior branches that form fruiting wood and fruit spurs on your pomegranate trees, you should prune them.
Reduce the length of the exterior branches to allow for the formation of even smaller side shoots in the spring. This new growth has a higher chance of developing blooming and fruiting buds.
It is critical to prune pomegranate trees carefully if you want to enhance fruit yield while maintaining an attractive shape.
In conclusion, Pomegranates are not only lovely additions to the home landscape, but they are also prolific and functional.
What is your favorite way to prepare pomegranates from your own garden? Which variety are you cultivating? Please let us know, and please share some photos with us in the comments section below!
