{"product_id":"punica-granatum","title":"Punica granatum (Pomegranate)","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003ePunica granatum\u003c\/strong\u003e, better known as the \u003cstrong\u003epomegranate\u003c\/strong\u003e, is one of the most rewarding flowering shrubs you can grow for a hot, sunny corner. In the UK it earns its place not for a heavy crop of fruit but for its extraordinary \u003cstrong\u003eorange-red, funnel-shaped flowers\u003c\/strong\u003e, which open right through summer against fresh, glossy foliage that flushes bronze in spring and turns butter-yellow before it falls. It brings a genuine touch of the Mediterranean to a sheltered border or a large pot on a sun-baked terrace.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt pays to be honest about the fruit. Pomegranates need a long, hot summer and warm autumn temperatures of around 13 to 16C to ripen, so across most of Britain the fruit rarely finishes outdoors. Grown for its flowers and its bold architecture, though, it is a star. Rated \u003cstrong\u003eRHS H3\u003c\/strong\u003e, it is half hardy, so it is happiest in a mild, coastal or urban garden and reliably good against a warm south or west-facing wall. Elsewhere, give it the most sheltered sunny spot you have plus a little winter protection, or keep it potted so it can shelter through the coldest weeks. Our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ehardy exotics, what to expect\u003c\/a\u003e guide explains how these plants behave through the seasons.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e full sun, in the warmest, most sheltered spot, ideally against a south or west-facing wall.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e any fertile, free-draining soil, from chalk to sand, across the full pH range, with sharp drainage the priority.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e a large shrub or small tree reaching around 1.5 to 2.5 m over ten to twenty years, and easily kept smaller in a container.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e RHS H3, half hardy, so shelter it well and protect it from hard winter frost.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eWater regularly through the first couple of summers to build a strong root system, after which it copes well with dry spells, and keep it much drier over winter. Because it is deciduous and flowers on the current season's growth, a light shaping prune in late winter keeps it tidy and brings on the new shoots that carry the blooms. It is a natural for a hot \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic border\u003c\/a\u003e or grouped with other \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/drought-tolerant-plants\"\u003edrought-tolerant plants\u003c\/a\u003e, and its long flowering makes it a favourite with bees, so it sits happily among our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pollinators\"\u003eplants for pollinators\u003c\/a\u003e. Where space or winter cold is a concern, it is one of the best \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003eplants for pots\u003c\/a\u003e and containers.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhether you are hunting for a \u003cstrong\u003epomegranate tree for UK\u003c\/strong\u003e gardens or simply the best sun-loving shrub for a warm wall, this is a characterful choice from our wider range of \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e. Every plant is nursery-grown, selected for a healthy shape and strong roots, and packed with care to arrive in top condition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"15cm \/ 1.5L","offer_id":58063992881535,"sku":"PUNIGRAN15","price":16.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/pomeg.jpg?v=1785411742","url":"https:\/\/growtropicals.com\/products\/punica-granatum","provider":"GrowTropicals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}