Pomegranate 'Wonderful' (photo courtesy Fruitopia Nursery, Brisbane - fruitopianursery.com.au)
Pomegranate 'Wonderful'
Punica granatum
Lythraceae family
Noted for its rich red colour and sweet, sour, tangy flavour, ’Wonderful’ can be eaten as fresh fruit or juiced. The seeds are delicious sprinkled fresh in lettuce or fruit salad, or pressed to use the juice
for beverages, jams or sauces. Pomegranates are very nutritious, high in anti-oxidants.
A deciduous tree. Can be targeted by fruit fly.
The Pomegranate is an ancient fruit that originated in the Middle East and is regarded as one of the earliest cultivated fruits.
The ’Wonderful’ variety was developed in California.
Tree maintenance
Punica granatum
Lythraceae family
Noted for its rich red colour and sweet, sour, tangy flavour, ’Wonderful’ can be eaten as fresh fruit or juiced. The seeds are delicious sprinkled fresh in lettuce or fruit salad, or pressed to use the juice
for beverages, jams or sauces. Pomegranates are very nutritious, high in anti-oxidants.
A deciduous tree. Can be targeted by fruit fly.
The Pomegranate is an ancient fruit that originated in the Middle East and is regarded as one of the earliest cultivated fruits.
The ’Wonderful’ variety was developed in California.
Tree maintenance
- Prune in winter. Choose three to five of the strongest vertical branches in the second year, and trim the rest out along with the smaller branches that are below the desired size and shape of the canopy.
- Remove all dead, diseased, crossing or downward growing branches. Prune away all suckers.
- Avoid pruning after the plant begins forming buds, as cutting these away will result in reduced fruit production.
- Keeping the plant trimmed for shape aids harvesting, and also opens up space in the canopy so light and air can penetrate, keeping the plant healthier and allowing fruits to ripen better.
- To maintain plant shape, cut back no more than six to eight inches from the branches prior to the onset of budding, and no more than a third of the branches at a time.
- Fertiliser should be applied sparingly and only if signs of nutrient deficiency have been detected.
- The tree is drought tolerant once established. Water during fruiting to improve the quality of the fruit.
Pomegranate 'Wonderful' at LCG January 2025 (photo credit: Jacqui Lachmann)
Pomegranate 'Wonderful' at LCG August 2022 (note no foliage in winter) (photo credit: Graham Bond)
