If you’d love to plant a pomegranate, but don’t have room for a standard-size plant, dwarf pomegranate be what you’re looking for. But grow this plant because it’s beautiful, not for the fruit (which is not very tasty). Here’s how to plant and care for this Middle Eastern native.
If you’d love to grow a pomegranate, but you don’t have room for a full size plant or aren’t that interested in harvesting the fruit, consider growing a dwarf pomegranate (Punica granatum ‘Nana’) instead.
Like the full-size plant, dwarf pomegranate is gorgeous and offers visual interest all year. This deciduous shrub has densely packed glossy bright green leaves which turn golden yellow in fall. In the spring, plants are covered with brilliant red-orange flowers. Small red fruits emerge in the summer and are ripe by fall.
Unlike dwarf fruit trees that have normal size fruit (i.e., dwarf citrus), dwarf pomegranate’s leaves, flowers, and fruits are proportionately small.
And unlike many fruit trees that only tolerate desert conditions, pomegranates thrive in the desert. They love our heat, sun, aridity, and even our desert soil.
“Tree or a shrub?“
Pomegranates naturally grow as shrubs,
but are sometimes pruned into trees.
Why I Like This Plant
- Glossy green leaves that turn gold in fall
- Eye-catching orange-red flowers followed by red fruit
- Low maintenance
- Fantastic container plant
- Attracts birds, bees, and butterflies
Dwarf pomegranates are less fussy than standard size plants. Since their fruit is not their raison d’etre, you don’t have to stress over fruit drop or splitting fruit. You don’t have to fret over insect damage or wildlife eating your fruit. Watering, fertilizing, and pruning are less critical, too.
Things to Watch Out For
Dwarf pomegranate aren’t grown for their fruit, they’re grown because they’re beautiful. The fruit is small (about 2″) and mainly ornamental.
Fruits are sour and rarely enjoyed “as is.” They are sometimes used in cooking or to make preserves.
Optimal Growing Conditions
If you’re thinking of adding a dwarf pomegranate to your garden, you need to find a suitable place that will keep your plant healthy and looking good… while minimizing maintenance for you.
Here are the key factors to keep in mind.
Temperature
Dwarf pomegranate should be grown in USDA Hardiness Zones 7 – 11. It thrives in extreme heat and is cold hardy down to 10℉.
Sun Exposure
This plant loves full sun. While you can plant it in partial shade, it needs at least 6 to 8 hours of full sun to look its best.
Size and Growth Rate
Dwarf pomegranate is a moderately fast grower and typically reaches a mature size of 4 feet tall by 3 feet wide. However, some older plants have been known to reach 6 feet tall.
Soil
Dwarf pomegranate grows well in any native soil — rocky, sandy, or clay — provided it’s well-draining. Unlike most fruit trees, it prefers alkaline soil.
Dwarf Pomegranate:
The Essentials
| Common Name | Dwarf pomegranate |
| Scientific Name | Punica granatum ‘Nana’ |
| Origin | Greater Middle East |
| Plant Type | Deciduous shrub |
| USDA Zones | Zones 7 – 11 |
| Cold Hardy | To 10℉ |
| Flower Color | Orange-red |
| Flower Season | Spring |
| Mature Size | 4’ high x 3’ wide |
| Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Sun Tolerance | Full, part sun |
| Water Needs | Moderate |
| Pests/Diseases | None |
| Wildlife | Attracts birds, bees, butterflies Deer, rabbit resistant |
How to Plant
The rule of thumb when planting any shrub in the desert is to dig a hole three times as wide as the root ball but no deeper. Amending the soil is not recommended. Counterintuitively, backfilling with the same native soil you just dug up helps your plant develop a stronger root system.
Dwarf pomegranate makes a fantastic container plant. Use a well-draining potting mix (not native soil) and don’t skimp on your container. It should be at least 20 inches tall and wide (bigger is better), have adequate drainage holes, and should not be made of plastic which gets too hot in the summer sun.
When to Plant
The best time to plant dwarf pomegranate is in the fall. This gives your shrub three seasons to grow roots and get established before the following summer.
The second best time is in spring, as soon as the risk of frost is over. This still gives your plant time to get established before the intense heat of June arrives.
How to Care for Dwarf Pomegranate
Whether you’ve recently planted a dwarf pomegranate or have an existing one in your yard, here’s how to take care of it to keep it healthy and looking its best.
How to Water New Plants
Once you’ve got your shrub in the ground, watering is your most immediate concern. Here is the recommended watering schedule for new shrubs planted in the spring or fall.
| Weeks 1 & 2 | Every 3 – 4 days |
| Weeks 3 & 4 | Every 5 – 7 days |
| Weeks 5 & 6 | Every 7 – 10 days |
| Weeks 7 & 8 | Every 10 – 14 days |
How to Water Established Plants
As your shrub gets established, there are two watering factors to consider.
- First is how often to water. This will vary with the seasons.
- Second is how much water to give your shrub with each watering. This depends on its current size.
To determine the ideal watering schedule for your dwarf pomegranate, you’ll find everything you need to know, including easy-to-use charts, at How to Water Desert Shrubs: How Often? How Much?
How to Water Potted Plants
Dwarf pomegranates in containers need water more frequently than those in the ground. A good place to start is to water plants twice a week. Be sure to let the soil dry out slightly (but not completely) between waterings.
Should You Fertilize?
It’s generally recommended that you fertilize your dwarf pomegranate or give it a generous top dressing of compost in late winter, before new spring growth appears. Unless your plant shows signs of deficiency, once a year should be adequate, since they are not heavy feeders.
If you grow one in a container, give it an additional feeding in the fall.
How to Prune
Dwarf pomegranate is a manageable shrub with a naturally round form that generally doesn’t need pruning. If your plant has any dead, damaged or deranged branches, prune them in late winter while the plant is still dormant.
This plant naturally grows as a multi-trunk shrub. While you can prune it to grow as a small tree, it will require more work for you and your plant won’t be any happier.
Never shear this plant, which destroys its natural form.
Plant Lover Facts
Pomegranate (Punica granatum) is native to the Greater Middle East, from Turkey to Pakistan. The origin of the ‘Nana’ dwarf variety is a mystery. It’s considered a natural variant that was first mentioned in botanical literature in the 1700s. It was found growing in England, but no one knows how it got there.
Have you grown this plant?
Was it a “hit” or a “miss” in your garden?
Please share your experience in the comments below!
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Author Bio
Deane Alban is the creator of Southwest Gardener. She is a science writer with a bachelor’s degree in botany from the University of South Florida. Gardening is her lifelong passion. She’s been gardening in Tucson for 15 years.
