How to Grow Pomegranate Plants in Northern Florida

Pomegranate (Punica granatum) is a deciduous shrub or small tree, hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 to 11. It is grown for its showy, red-orange flowers and its red fruits filled with juicy, edible seeds. The first step in establishing whether or not pomegranate can be grown in Northern Florida is to check for compatible plant hardiness zones. Northern Florida encompasses three USDA plant hardiness zones -- 8a through 9b -- which means the pomegranate is hardy throughout the region.

In order for species pomegranates to produce fruit, the plants must be exposed to temperatures of 90 degrees Fahrenheit and above for a period of time after pollination has occurred. The American Horticultural Society's Plant Heat-Zone Map shows that northern Florida is in AHS heat zones 9 and 10. Zone 9 has 120 to 150 days per year with temperatures above 86 degrees Fahrenheit and zone 10 has 150 to 180 days per year with temperatures above that level. Pomegranates will not only bloom, but most likely fruit successfully in the region.

In Northern Florida, pomegranates can be grown either in the ground or in containers in soil that is rich and well-drained. Water regularly until young plants are established, and mulch to preserve soil moisture. Pomegranates need a sunny site and can tolerate dry conditions. They may sprout root suckers, which should be removed, as they sap energy from the plant. Red, trumpet-shaped flowers appear in mid summer. After pollination, remove some of the immature fruits to ensure that the remainder will be larger in size. Prune in late winter to remove weak or dead branches and shape the plant.

Even in regions like Northern Florida, where climate conditions are favorable for growing pomegranates, fruiting requires pollination. Pomegranates are pollinated by a variety of bees and beetles. To ensure an abundance of pollinators, avoid using pesticides in the garden. Pomegranates are not troubled severely by insect pests. Plant an array of flowering species near the pomegranate and provide a habitat for the pollinators that includes water sources and cover for hiding and nesting.

In Northern Florida, where pomegranate plants do not require indoor overwintering, the shrubs can be used as stand-alone garden specimens or included in mixed plantings of annuals, perennials, shrubs and small trees. Species plants, which grow between 6 and 20 feet tall, with a spread of 4 to 15 feet, can also be used as flowering hedges. A dwarf cultivar, "Nana" (Punica granatum "Nana"), which has a height and spread of 12 to 36 inches, is suitable for smaller spaces. "Nana" is hardy in USDA zones 7 through 10, which includes Northern Florida.