Cold hardiness

Future

2050

2100

These values are location-based: this location's current hardiness is the baseline, and the 2050 value is a projected future climate for this same location.

Now

Zone 6b

USDA

Published baseline for this location from 1991-2020.

Source: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (1991-2020 climatology) via ArcGIS FeatureServer

Won't grow here

2050

Zone 7a

Plotwright

Projected zone for this same location in 2050 (2041-2070) using SSP3-7.0 (regional rivalry).

Won't grow here

In plain terms: This location is in Zone 6b today. Its hardiness profile is cold winters, and coldest nights are typically around -3°F. By 2050, the projected hardiness zone is Zone 7a based on SSP3-7.0 (regional rivalry). That is a +0.5-zone shift from Zone 6b to Zone 7a by 2050.

✕

Out of range today and still out of range in 2050.

Heat tolerance

Future

2050

2100

Heat tolerance values are location-based too: heat days today are observed at this site, and the 2050 value projects this same location under a future climate.

Loading AHS heat-zone data for this location...

Where this plant fits

Suitable across 39 ecoregions — 34 climate-resilient through 2070 · 5 newly possible by 2070. Best matches first.

Appalachian mixed mesophytic forests

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Appalachian-Blue Ridge forests

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Arizona Mountains forests

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Atlantic coastal pine barrens

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California coastal sage and chaparral

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Canadian Aspen forests and parklands

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Central Pacific Northwest coastal forests

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Central-Southern Cascades Forests

What it needs

Conditions

Light

Full sun

Water

Low water

Spacing

96"

Habit

Multi-stemmed deciduous shrub or small tree

Care tips

•

Give it the hottest, sunniest spot you have — fruiting needs long, hot, dry summers (90 degrees F+) and cooler winters.

•

Plant in well-drained, fertile loam; established plants are drought-tolerant, so avoid overwatering.

•

In Zone 7 or colder, grow in a container and overwinter it indoors in a bright, cool location with reduced watering.

Lifecycle

Planting

Plant in full sun in organically rich, dry-to-medium-moisture, well-drained, fertile loam where winter-hardy (USDA Zones 8-11). In colder climates, grow in a container of rich fertile mix and overwinter indoors in a bright, cool spot.

Transplanting

Move young plants or container specimens in spring before active growth; site in the hottest, sunniest position available.

Early growth

Water through establishment, then taper — the species is drought-tolerant once rooted. Fruiting is best in areas with long, hot, dry summers (90 degrees F or above) and cooler winters.

Maturity

Mature plants reach 6-20 feet (occasionally taller) with showy orange-red flowers in July-August followed by orange-sized edible fruit. Container plants in cold climates may defoliate over winter and will not set fruit in short-summer regions like St. Louis.

Propagation

Commonly propagated from hardwood cuttings; named cultivars are grown vegetatively to come true.

Pollination

Self-fertile (better with a partner)

Pomegranate flowers are self-fertile but set more and larger fruit with insect cross-pollination. Carpenter bees and honey bees are the principal pollinators of the showy orange-red flowers; a single plant can fruit on its own where summers are long and hot.

Plants don't grow alone

Pollinates

Bee

Eastern carpenter bee (Xylocopa virginica)

Large carpenter bees are principal pollinators of pomegranate flowers, working the showy orange-red blooms for nectar and pollen and improving fruit set over self-pollination alone.

Nectar forage

Bee

European honeybee (Apis mellifera)

Honey bees visit the orange-red summer flowers for nectar and pollen and contribute to the cross-pollination that increases fruit set.

For people

Edible

Long cultivated for its orange-sized edible fruit — Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder lists the fruit as showy and edible. The juicy seed arils are eaten fresh or juiced; the species has been grown for its fruit for thousands of years.

Native range

AHS heat range

6-12

Climate notes

•

Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder lists Punica granatum as winter hardy to USDA Zones 8-11, grown in organically rich, dry-to-medium moisture, well-drained fertile loams in full sun.

•

Per Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder, plants fruit best in areas with long, hot and dry summers (90 degrees F and above) and cooler winters; in short-summer climates like St. Louis they may be grown in containers and overwintered indoors but will not produce fruit.

•

Drought-tolerant once established (Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder); a long-cultivated, non-native ornamental and fruit crop best suited to Mediterranean-style and hot-summer gardens.

In the designer

Growth over time

72-240" tall · 48-180" spread

Mature flowering + fruiting specimen where summers are long and hot.

Design roles: Focal point · Structure · Edible

Seasonal interest

Spring

Summer

Fall

Winter

Filled = the plant has seasonal interest · ▾ now = your current season

Pomegranate

At a glance

Why it matters

Cold hardiness

Heat tolerance

Where this plant fits

What it needs

Lifecycle

Pollination

Plants don't grow alone

For people

Native range

Climate notes

In the designer

Seasonal interest

Sources & citations