Practical
Plants

Punica granatum

Pomegranate

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Punica genus in the family Punicaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Punica
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Height
5 m
Spread
8 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Fruit - raw[1][15][26][27]. Juicy and refreshing with a sub-acid flavour[13], they are considered delicious by many people though others do not like the large number of seeds with relatively little fruit pulp[K]. The fruit juice can be used in soups, sauces, jellies, ice cream, cakes etc[13]. The fruit contains about 1.5% protein, 1.6% fat, 16.8% carbohydrate, 0.6% ash[6][11]. Annual yields from wild trees in the Himalayas averaged 32kg per tree[14]. The fruit is about 12cm in diameter[16]. The fresh seed is soft and can be eaten raw[21]. When dried it is used as a seasoning in dal, fried samosa, stuffings and chutneys[13]. The boiled leaves are said to be eaten[13].

Product or use
Condiment
Plant part
Fruit
Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Seed

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The pomegranate has a long history of herbal use dating back more than 3,000 years[22]. All parts of the plant contain unusual alkaloids, known as 'pelletierines', which paralyse tapeworms so that they are easily expelled from the body by using a laxative[22]. The plant is also rich in tannin, which makes it an effective astringent. It is used externally in the treatment of vaginal discharges, mouth sores and throat infections[22]. The whole plant, but in particular the bark, is antibacterial, antiviral and astringent[17][28][30][33][10][14]. This remedy should be used with caution, overdoses can be toxic[17][18]. The flowers are used in the treatment of dysentery, stomach ache and cough[18]. Along with the leaves and seeds, they have been used to remove worms[27]. The seeds are demulcent and stomachic[27][23]. The fruit is a mild astringent and refrigerant in some fevers and especially in biliousness[27]. It is also cardiac and stomachic[23]. The dried rind of the fruit is used in the treatment of amoebic dysentery, diarrhoea etc[27][22]. It is a specific remedy for tapeworm infestation[24]. The stem bark is emmenagogue[18]. Both the stem and the root barks are used to expel tapeworms[27]. Use this with caution, the root bark can cause serious poisoning[31].The bark is harvested in the autumn and dried for later use[22]. The dried pericarp is decocted with other herbs and used in the treatment of colic, dysentery, leucorrhoea etc[18].

Product or use
Antibacterial
Product or use
Antiviral
Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Cardiac
Product or use
Demulcent
Product or use
Emmenagogue
Product or use
Refrigerant
Product or use
Stomachic
Product or use
Vermifuge

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A red dye is obtained from the flowers and also from the rind of unripened fruits[33][2][7][9]. The dye can be red or black and it is also used as an ink[6]. It is coppery-brown in colour[9]. No mordant is required[9]. A fast yellow dye is obtained from the dried rind[14]. The dried peel of the fruit contains about 26% tannin[28][20]. The bark can also be used as a source of tannin[5]. The root bark contains about 22% tannin, a jet-black ink can be made from it[14]. Plants are grown as hedges in Mediterranean climates[16]. Wood - very hard, compact, close grained, durable, yellow. Used for making agricultural implements. A possible substitute for box, Buxus spp[5][6][7][14].

Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Ink
Product or use
Tannin
Product or use
Wood

Environment

Range
S.E. Europe to E. Asia - Himalayas.
Habitat
Dry limestone soils to 2700 metres in the Himalayas[29].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 9+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse, preferably at a temperature of 22°c[16][22]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first 2 growing seasons. Plant out in late spring or early summer. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 4 - 5cm with a heel, June/July in a frame[32][4]. Good percentage[32]. Cuttings of mature wood, 20 - 25cm long, November in a warm greenhouse[4]. Layering. Division of suckers in the dormant season[16]. They can be planted out direct into their permanent positions, though we prefer to pot them up first and plant them out when they are growing away well in late spring or early summer.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

An easily grown plant, it prefers a well-drained fertile soil[1][12][25] and succeeds in a hot dry position[8]. Requires a sheltered sunny position[19]. Not very hardy in Britain, the pomegranate tolerates temperatures down to about -11°c[26], but it is best grown on a south facing wall even in the south of the country because it requires higher summer temperatures than are normally experienced in this country in order to ripen its fruit and its wood[3][8]. The wood is also liable to be cut back by winter frosts when it is grown away from the protection of a wall[3]. Trees do not grow so well in the damper western part of Britain[12]. Most plants of this species grown in Britain are of the dwarf cultivar 'Nana'. This is hardier than the type but its fruit is not such good quality[3]. This sub-species fruited on an east-facing wall at Kew in the hot summer of 1989[K]. The pomegranate is often cultivated in warm temperate zones for its edible fruit, there are many named varieties[13]. In Britain fruits are only produced after very hot summers. Plants often sucker freely[31]. Flowers are produced on the tips of the current years growth[16]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[16].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press 1969-00-00 ISBN 0192176218

    ↩

  3. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  4. Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009

    ↩1↩2

  5. Gamble. J. S. A Manual of Indian Timbers. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh 1972-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  6. Vines. R. A. Trees of Central Texas. University of Texas Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0-292-78958-3

    ↩1↩2↩3

  7. Gupta. B. L. Forest Flora of Chakrata, Dehra Dun and Saharanpur. Forest Research Institute Press 1945-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  8. Taylor. J. The Milder Garden. Dent 1990-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  9. Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-02-544950-8

    ↩1↩2↩3

  10. Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles 1985-00-00

    ↩

  11. Reid. B. E. Famine Foods of the Chiu-Huang Pen-ts'ao. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre 1977-00-00

    ↩

  12. Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2

    ↩1↩2

  13. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  14. Parmar. C. and Kaushal. M.K. Wild Fruits of the Sub-Himalayan Region. Kalyani Publishers. New Delhi. 1982-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  15. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩

  16. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  17. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩1↩2

  18. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  19. Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219220-0

    ↩

  20. Rottsieper. E.H.W. Vegetable Tannins The Forestal Land, Timber and Railways Co. Ltd. 1946-00-00

    ↩

  21. Vines. R.A. Trees of North Texas University of Texas Press. 1982-00-00 ISBN 0292780206

    ↩

  22. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  23. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  24. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩

  25. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2 Pan Books, London. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-330-37376-5

    ↩

  26. Simmons. A. E. Growing Unusual Fruit. David and Charles 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-7153-5531-7

    ↩1↩2

  27. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  28. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  29. Polunin. O. and Stainton. A. Flowers of the Himalayas. Oxford Universtiy Press 1984-00-00

    ↩

  30. Schery. R. W. Plants for Man.

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  31. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

    ↩1↩2

  32. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  33. Polunin. O. and Huxley. A. Flowers of the Mediterranean. Hogarth Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0-7012-0784-1

    ↩1↩2

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