Tom's Red Pomegranate

Eating healthy is a long-lasting trend in this country. People from crossfit fanatics to soccer Moms and yoga enthusiasts actively seek out the joys of a diet rich in antioxidants. That interest in superfoods has met the twin trend of Edible Landscaping. Nature Hills is so pleased we can support our customers in their quest to boost food security.

Make the most of your sunshine with the exceptional, early-ripening Tom's Red Pomegranate tree (Punica granatum 'Toms Red'). You'll love everything about these pretty fruiting plants. Enjoy a lovely harvest of bold-toned, leather-skinned Pomegranates are one of the first varieties to ripen red fruit in fall. Harvest and quarter them for easy access to the heavenly aroma and taste of the glistening, edible arils inside!

Juice them for a sweet-tasting drink as a wonderfully satisfying reward. Reduce the juice into a syrupy "molasses" for cocktails. Use them in cooking. Their sweet-tart taste is a perfect complement to braised meats and as a salad topping.

Of course, you'll also get excited about the ornamental qualities of these exquisite plants. Decorate your landscape with their showy, red blooms in summertime. The trumpet-shaped blooms will make you feel like you live on a tropical island. The long, lustrous leaves add another delightful touch.

Our expert growers are excited about this early variety. We have a very hard time keeping it in stock. Place your order for Tom's Red Pomegranate ASAP, as we only have a limited inventory available each year.

How to Use Tom's Red Pomegranate Tree in the Landscape

For homeowners in USDA hardiness zones 7 - 10, you can plant these in the ground as a lovely ornamental edible tree. Keep the lowest limbs on the tree to create a bushier look—you'll love the privacy. These are self-pollinating trees, but you'll enjoy a much larger fruit set with another nearby. Add with our other varieties of Pomegranate to extend your season of harvest.

Space them eight to ten feet apart on center, measuring from the center of one to the center of the next. Why not run them along your fence line as a gorgeous hedgerow?

Remove the lower limbs back to the main stem and create a tree-form. Use a single one as an accent tree. It's very "on-trend" to anchor your foundation planting with an edible ornamental tree placed at the corner of your home!

In the warmer zones, the foliage of Tom's Red Pomegranate may stay evergreen. Either way, the large leaves are a snap to pick up in late fall. Even cold-winter gardeners can grow them in containers or grow bags. Move them into a cool, brightly lit area for wintertime. They'll rest in a period of dormancy in those conditions. Bring them outside again once the weather warms up, and enjoy another wonderful season.

Tiny lot, or renting? Grow them in large containers and move them to a sheltered spot for the wintertime.

#ProPlantTips for Care

Easy-to-grow Tom's Red Pomegranate needs full sunlight or partial shade. Give it at least four hours of direct sunlight a day. Well-drained soils that shed water quickly are also important. As long as the drainage is good, Pomegranates aren't fussy about soil type. Through fruit development, apply a periodic application of an organic fertilizer for fruiting plants. Follow the directions on the package.

Mulch is important to keep the root system cool. Apply a three-inch layer, but please pull it back away from the trunk. Water on a regular schedule until the roots are well established. You want to keep the soil evenly moist, never wet. Once the plant is established, it tolerates periodic drought.

Pomegranates grown as container plants need careful watering, too. During dormancy, water once a month at most, and ensure the excess water drains quickly.

Prune in late winter. Eliminate crossing branches and head back any branches growing into the interior. The goal is to open the canopy up to sunlight and air circulation.

Why pay more for pricy Pomegranates from the grocery stores? Order your Tom's Red Pomegranate from Nature Hills Nursery, the fruit tree specialists, and grow your own!