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Punica granatum California Sunset - Pomegranate

Punica granatum California Sunset
Pomegranate

5,0/5
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Beautiful plant arrived very quickly in great condition, planted in a lovely flowerbed. I can't wait for spring when the leaves come out and these gorgeous flowers appear.

Enzo, 25/10/2024

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This plant carries a 24 months recovery warranty

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Value-for-money
This pomegranate bush does not produce fruits, but very beautiful double flowers, loaded with variegated petals of orange, salmon and cream, which bloom abundantly in late spring or summer depending on the climate. This large deciduous bush with vigorous growth does not have thorns, and its foliage takes on a beautiful golden yellow colour in autumn. It perfectly tolerates drought and sea spray, is not demanding on the nature of the soil, and is hardy down to -15°C (5 °F) once well established.
Flower size
6 cm
Height at maturity
3 m
Spread at maturity
2 m
Exposure
Sun, Partial shade
Hardiness
Hardy down to -12°C
Soil moisture
Dry soil, Moist soil
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Best planting time April to May
Recommended planting time March to November
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Flowering time June to July
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Description

Punica granatum 'California Sunset' is a pomegranate tree of uncertain origin, appreciated not for its fruits, which never form, but for its magnificent double flowering. Its large, wrinkled-looking flowers are adorned with variegated petals of orange, salmon, and cream, and bloom abundantly in late spring or summer depending on the climate. This vigorous bush does not bear thorns, and its deciduous foliage, a bright green, turns a beautiful golden yellow in autumn. This generously flowering bush is not demanding in terms of soil type, preferring deep, fresh soil, but it also withstands drought very well.

 

The 'Legrelliae' flowering pomegranate is sometimes marketed under the names 'Madame Legrelle', 'Madame Legrellia', or 'California Sunset'. It is an old cultivar with obscure origins, named in honour of a certain Mrs. Legrelle, a plant collector mentioned in an English gardening periodical in 1875. Its connection to flowering pomegranates remains a mystery. The Punica 'Legrelliae' is a small tree or large bush of the Lythraceae family, curiously related to purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), which is so common near our waterways. The fruit-bearing pomegranate, from which it descends, is native to a vast region that covers southeastern Europe and extends eastward to the Himalayas.

'Legrelliae' first forms a tuft of non-thorny and tangled branches in its youth, showing fairly rapid growth until maturity, which does not occur until the age of 5. The mature plant develops at a much slower pace, forming a small tree at least 3m (9ft 10in) in height and 2m (6ft 7in) in width, with a spreading and rounded habit after a few years. From a tuft, it becomes a tree with a trunk that has a twisted appearance, reminiscent of olive trees. The flowering takes place in abundance in June-July, and then more sporadically throughout the summer. The flowers, large for the species, measure 6cm (2.4in) in diameter. They are composed of numerous wrinkled petals in shades of orange, pink, and cream-white, emerging from a thick, waxy-textured calyx that already evokes the future pomegranate. But in this variety, like in all double-flowered pomegranates, the flowers are sterile and no fruits are formed. The deciduous foliage is composed of small, thick, shiny, ovate leaves of a bright green colour. They emerge bronze to purple in spring and turn yellow before falling in autumn.

 

Symbol of abundance like its emblematic ancestor of ancient civilizations, the 'Legrelliae' pomegranate is a magnificent subject to plant in a warm, isolated location. Hardy down to -12/-15°C (10.4/5 °F), it will grow without any problems wherever the olive tree and fig tree can surve in a well-sheltered location. It can also be used as a hedge, regularly pruned, along with a false jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides), myrtles, and even, as in the gardens of the Alhambra, large shrub roses (Rosa complicata, Rosa glauca, 'Ghislaine de Feligonde', 'Roseraie de l'Haye'...). On the terrace, it will stand out in a large pot, accompanied by citrus trees, Grevillea, and oleanders. This cultivation method allows the tree to be stored in a very bright location, warm in our very cold regions.

The city of Granada, a crossroads of Arab and Andalusian civilizations located in southern Spain, owes its name to the presence of the pomegranate tree, brought by the Moors and abundantly planted in the mythical gardens of the Alhambra palace. This tree also thrived in the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, and the Romans discovered it in Carthage, naming it the Apple of Carthage.

 

  *Journal of Horticulture, Cottage Gardener et Country Gentlemen, Volume 28, 1875.

 

Punica granatum California Sunset - Pomegranate in pictures

Punica granatum California Sunset - Pomegranate (Flowering) Flowering
Punica granatum California Sunset - Pomegranate (Foliage) Foliage
Punica granatum California Sunset - Pomegranate (Plant habit) Plant habit

Plant habit

Height at maturity 3 m
Spread at maturity 2 m
Habit Irregular, bushy
Growth rate normal

Flowering

Flower colour salmon
Flowering time June to July
Inflorescence Solitary
Flower size 6 cm

Foliage

Foliage persistence Deciduous
Foliage colour green

Botanical data

Genus

Punica

Species

granatum

Cultivar

California Sunset

Family

Lythraceae

Other common names

Pomegranate

Origin

Cultivar or hybrid

Product reference834502

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Planting and care

We advise you to plant your Punica granatum 'Legrelliae' in spring, when frost is no longer a concern, in a cool region, but preferably in autumn in a hot and dry climate. Plant it in a very sunny and sheltered location, or in partial shade in a hot climate, in a deep, well-drained soil, even if it is limestone. While it withstands drought well and can tolerate arid conditions, it will only reach its full potential and bloom abundantly in a soil that is sufficiently moist in depth. It is resistant to sea spray. Monitor watering during the first two summers. It will benefit from the addition of compost and a thick layer of dead leaves, especially during the first two winters in cold regions. Pruning in early spring is not essential, but it can help shape the plant into a small tree with a single trunk or nicely carried by 3 or 4 trunks: keep the most vigorous stem(s) in a young plant, remove the others. In the following years, systematically remove any branches that grow on the small trunk(s), up to the desired height.

The pomegranate has no specific enemies; it is a very robust species.

Multiplication by cuttings of dry wood in winter or by herbaceous cuttings in spring.

Planting period

Best planting time April to May
Recommended planting time March to November

Intended location

Suitable for Meadow, Woodland edge
Type of use Border, Back of border, Container
Hardiness Hardy down to -12°C (USDA zone 8a) Show map
Ease of cultivation Amateur
Planting density 1 per m2
Exposure Sun, Partial shade
Soil pH Neutral, Calcareous, Any
Soil type Chalky (poor, alkaline and well-drained), Silty-loamy (rich and light), Stony (poor and well-drained)
Soil moisture Dry soil, Moist soil, Ordinary but deep and fertile soil

Care

Pruning instructions Pruning in early spring is not essential, but it can help to quickly shape a young tree with a single trunk or beautifully carried by 3 or 4 trunks: keep the most vigorous shoot(s) on a young plant, remove the others. In the following years, systematically remove the branches that grow on the small trunk(s), until the desired height is reached.
Pruning Pruning recommended once a year
Pruning time February to March
Soil moisture Dry soil, Moist soil
Disease resistance Very good
Overwinter Can be left in the ground
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