Pomegranate Varieties for the South

Wonderful

• "Wonderful" is the most widely grown variety, and according to Clemson University, it is the standard by which all other varieties are judged. They also list it as a variety likely to do well in the South. Its fruit is large, purple to red and stores well. Seeds are crimson, juicy, sweet and ripen in September. Bushes grow between 8 to 12 feet tall and make attractive landscape plants.

Early Ripening

• If you just can't wait until the end of summer to enjoy your pomegranates, an early ripening variety may be the right choice for you. "Early Wonderful" is similar to "Wonderful" but ripens two weeks earlier. "Granada" is a very hardy variety with deep red fruit that is less tart than "Wonderful" and ripens in August.

Dooryard

• Pomegranate is considered a dooryard fruit because its attractive foliage and flowers make it useful for both a landscape plant and a food plant. Essentially, dooryard fruits are kept in the yard next to the door so they are readily available for picking and because they add to the ambiance of the landscape. Some varieties play this double role better than others. "Double Red" has deep red, double flowers. "Flavascens" breaks the mold with yellow flowers. "Eight Ball" grows about 8 feet tall and has almost-black fruit. "Purple Seed" and "Spanish Ruby" are popular dooryard varieties in Florida according to the University of Florida.

Dwarf

• For southern gardeners without the space to support an 8-foot pomegranate bush, a dwarf variety could be a good option. "State Fair" grows to about 5 feet in height and flowers profusely. It is cold hardy and produces fruit about 2 inches in diameter. "Nana" is also cold hardy. It only grows between 2 to 3 feet tall and has red-orange flowers.