Growing pomegranate
berry / bush fruit
Pollination
Self-fertile, though a second plant lifts yields.
Growing it
Zones 8-11; needs a long hot summer to ripen. Grown as a container plant further north. Tolerates poor soil and some drought.
Where pomegranate grows best
Hardy in zones 8-11, and it needs enough winter cold - about 100-200 chill hours - to flower and fruit well. Combining the two:
Good fit across most of: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina. Also parts of Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maryland, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington.
Will you get enough chill?
Pomegranate needs roughly 100–200 hours between 32 and 45 °F over winter to break dormancy evenly. Check your area with the chill hours calculator. Low-chill breeding has pushed many varieties well below the figure here, so read the plant tag.
Questions gardeners ask
What zone does pomegranate grow in?
Pomegranate grows in USDA hardiness zones 8-11. In the warmest of those (zone 11), winters may be too mild to give the chill it needs, so choose low-chill varieties there.
How many chill hours does pomegranate need?
Roughly 100-200 hours between 32 and 45°F over winter, depending on the variety. Low-chill varieties need less - check the plant tag, and estimate your own area with the chill hours calculator.
Is pomegranate self-pollinating?
Self-fertile — one plant crops on its own. Self-fertile, though a second plant lifts yields.
Which states can grow pomegranate?
Pomegranate suits most of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and parts of 17 other states where the right zones occur. Your own zone and chill hours matter more than the state.
Chill and pollination are given at the fruit-type level; specific cultivars can differ. Values are typical ranges for home-garden planning.