The wonderful pomegranate variety originates from Florida.
The dwarf pomegranate is a tiny cousin of the large pomegranate trees called Punica granatum, which are known the world over for their succulent seeds that burst in your mouth with a bittersweet taste. Named Punica granatum var. nana, these pygmy trees produce fruits about half the size of common pomegranates, which can be eaten, although they are more sour than sweet. But these trees are mostly prized by landscapers and bonsai enthusiasts for their coveted miniature form.
A full-size pomegranate tree can grow up to 30 feet (about 10 m) and bear fruit up to 5 inches (about 12.5 cm). Native to Iran, the fruit has a history of use in literature, religion, culinary traditions, and homeopathic remedies throughout the Middle East and Mediterranean. Several cultivars have been developed over the centuries, the Wonderful variety native to Florida, the Kabul variety in Afghanistan, and the Spanish Ruby in California.
The dwarf pomegranate is one of the most prized cultivars for bonsai trees. Its largest specimens can grow up to 8 feet (about 2.5 m), and its fruit can be 2.5 inches in diameter (about 6.4 cm), but can be much smaller with proper pruning and a little bonsai experience. While some are kept as landscaping plants in regular soil, many are kept in pots. Both environments are suitable for this hardy plant, which grows best when kept moist.
This plant can be grown from seed and cross-pollinated to bear fruit, or it can be propagated by replanting pruned branches. Sunlight and water should be plentiful for the dwarf pomegranate, but the soil doesn’t have to be ideal, as the plant tends to do well on rocks and fallen branches. Like most other pomegranate species, the dwarf pomegranate thrives in hotter, arid climates with alkaline soils, climates that don’t drop much below 20°F (about -3.9°C). In North America, this is summed up in US Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 9 and 10, which cover parts of Texas, California, and Florida.
In addition to bonsai and landscaping potential, dwarf pomegranate seeds can be tossed into fruit salads or eaten one after another, on their own. In Ayurvedic medicine and other herbal traditions, many pomegranate cultivars have been used for at least a few millennia to prevent digestive disorders, condition the skin, strengthen the heart, and lower blood pressure. It can also be used to condition leather.