Pomegranates (Punica granatum) grow best in warm, sunny, and dry climates. They are indigenous to Iran and neighboring countries and have been cultivated historically around the Mediterranean, the Arabian Peninsula, Afghanistan, India, and parts of Asia and Africa
. Key regions where pomegranates grow:
- Native to Persia (modern-day Iran) and surrounding areas
- Widely cultivated throughout the Mediterranean Basin, West Asia, the Caucasus, South Asia, Central Asia, North and tropical Africa, and drier parts of Southeast Asia
- In the Americas, they are grown in warmer parts of the United States (notably California, Texas, and Arizona), as well as in Chile
- In the U.S., California produces 99% of the pomegranates
Growing conditions:
- Prefer hot and dry climates with high temperatures during the ripening period
- Require full sun exposure, ideally at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily
- Grow well in USDA Hardiness Zones 8 through 10, with some varieties tolerating colder areas
- Thrive in well-drained soils including deep loams, sandy, or clay soils with moderate acidity
- Trees grow 10 to 15 feet tall and can live over 200 years
In summary, pomegranates grow best in warm, dry regions with plenty of sunlight, such as the Mediterranean, Middle East, parts of Asia, North Africa, and warm areas of the Americas like California
