Angel Red Pomegranate Trees

About Pomegranate Trees

• Pomegranates are long-lived trees, decorative both when flowering and fruiting. The branches have defensive spines, so wear long sleeves and gloves when working near the trees. Most pomegranates have red or white flowers, but the flowers of the Angel Red are orange. Pomegranates often don't bear fruit until several years after they have been planted.

About Angel Red

• Angel Red is a new dwarf variety of pomegranate that grows in USDA plant hardiness zones 7 through 11, although fruiting can be sparse in zone 7. The 10-foot-tall tree features orange flowers, followed by large, bright-red fruit in September, several weeks before the the standard pomegranate cultivar, Wonderful. Angel Red bears a large number of juicy fruit, and the seeds are soft and sweet. Because of its small size, Angel Red is a good patio specimen tree.

Culture

• Grow Angel Red in full sun in well-drained soil. The normally upright tree branches will sag from the weight of the fruit, so give it plenty of room. Pomegranates are self-pollinating, so there is no need to plant multiple trees. Fertilize the trees in November and March during their first two years, after which no additional fertilizer is needed. You should water Angel Red weekly, more if the weather is hot and dry. The fruit is ready to harvest when it's softball size and has a metallic sound when tapped. Don't harvest pomegranates early, since they stop ripening once they're picked. Pomegranates stored at 32 to 41 degrees Fahrenheit will keep for up to seven months.

Propagation

• Angel Red is the marketing name given to the patented plant known legally as Punica granatum 'Smith,' protected under plant patent number 16578. As such, you're prohibited from asexually propagating the plant, meaning you can't root stem cuttings, divide or air-layer the tree, or use pieces of the roots to produce new plants. You can are allowed to plant the seeds, however, although seedlings will most likely not resemble the original plant.