growing pomegranates in coastal southern california?

[goldenmountain]

I have an Eversweet pomegranate which has been in the ground about 3 years. . The nursery plant I bought I'd estimate was at lest 2 years old. This was the first year it developed flowers- the tree was covered with flowers. But - much to my surprise - all the flowers dropped in June. Any other coastal growers experience something like that this year? We get a lot of fog in June and the humidity increased substantially at that time. Researching the topic, I did come across some articles in which it was stated that pomegranates prefer hot arid climates and will drop flowers in high humidity. I got the Eversweet because it is actually described as being a good performer in coastal areas though, so I'm a bit perplexed. Aside from the  flower drop, the tree looks healthy green and great. But of course I got it because I want fruit, not a bush!

More recently I bought a small Wonderful pomegranate starter tree. Soon afterwards I began to read that the Wonderful does not do well in coastal areas, because it needs consistent high heat to sweeten the fruit. I'm almost afraid to put this one in the ground now, because if my tree which is supposed to do well in a coastal area isn't fruiting, what's going to happen with one that is supposed to be grown in a hot arid climate?

If anyone is successfully growing these varieties in the same region, please let me know, and share your secrets if you have any!

[spaugh]

I live 16 miles from the ocean so it gets quite hot here.  But I can tell you that tree in the photo is still a little small and may require another year or 2 to be large enough to fruit.  Also looks a little bit chlorotic.  It may just need a bit of fertilizer and more time. 

[sc4001992]

I had or have both of those varieties you have in ground in Fullerton area. They grow fine, vigorous but I have not had a fruit in maybe 5 years on either one. I think its a bad variety for high fruit production.

But the good news is, I grafted Angel Red a few years ago to the Wonderful tree and now it has a lot of fruits. Too bad you just posted this now, I could have given you a lot of free cuttings of Angel Red to graft but I just chopped down most of my branches so it is just a tall stick with a few fruits I left on it.

Same issue of no fruit on the Eversweet, crummy variety for our area? The in ground tree grew large, I didn't get fruits on it for over 5 years so I just top worked it with other varieties and now it has lots of flowers and some fruits for the first time now. I grafted a giant Mediterranean variety for a forum member.

My advise is just graft something that will flower and fruit for you like Angel Red or Parfianka.

[SoCalGardenNut]

I removed Wonderful after 2 years, no fruit for 2 years. I replaced it with a guava.

[spaugh]

Wonderful fruits very hard here.  It is the best performer but the seeds are hard so not the best eating. 

[mbmango]

I have Eversweet, Angel Red, and Parfianka, and they do fine for us with our mild marine weather.  I'm about 2mi off the water.  They do drop a lot of flowers, but retain enough fruit.  Some years set better than others, so I'm wondering what might help increase pollination rates.  The main issues for me recently are increased rots spoiling a lot of fruit.  I haven't looked into what kind of regimen might help for that.  As for heat and sweetness, that was the reason I tried the Eversweet, and it does what we hoped.  Parfianka and Angel Red can be less sweet some years, but I still enjoy them.  It seems that Angel Red is generally able to sweeten up more with less heat than Parfianka.  On good years, both can be amazing even with our minimal heat, with Parfianka being the best when it can reach its potential.

[Johnny Eat Fruit]

Enclosed is a photo of my Parfianka Pomegranate planted in the ground October 2023 at my costal location. This is the first year I have a few fruit forming. I suspect with a few more years of growth the tree production will go up significantly.

Johnny



Parfianka Pomegranate Tree (7-26-2025)

[CA Hockey]

I agree with Brad. For us in socal these are great trees. I'm 8 miles from the coast and have 10 different varieties. All make way too fruit. I can't keep up. If I prune them hard, then flowering is delayed the next year. They like to flower after roughly 18 inches of side branches, give or take. Not a hard rule but the point is the side branches need to be long enough before it starts flowering. As for fruit drop, we had some weird late may heat wave that messed with a lot of my fruits, mainly mango grafts still tender and small mango fruits and small figs.

[Dreammangosteen]

I’m more inland (north county San Diego) but parfianka and dessertni have done well for me. Depending on where you are in So cal I have a small rooted parfianka cutting if you want to try that as an alternative.

[Rauf]

Pomegranates are easy to care, cold and drought tolerant, but for good production they need water supply and fertile soil. We have places here famous for the tasty pomegranates, mostly near the rivers and with rich soil. But for me with the similar climate but sandy soil they are terrible producer if not given good amount of water and fertilisers.

[goldenmountain]

I had or have both of those varieties you have in ground in Fullerton area. They grow fine, vigorous but I have not had a fruit in maybe 5 years on either one. I think its a bad variety for high fruit production.

But the good news is, I grafted Angel Red a few years ago to the Wonderful tree and now it has a lot of fruits. Too bad you just posted this now, I could have given you a lot of free cuttings of Angel Red to graft but I just chopped down most of my branches so it is just a tall stick with a few fruits I left on it.

Same issue of no fruit on the Eversweet, crummy variety for our area? The in ground tree grew large, I didn't get fruits on it for over 5 years so I just top worked it with other varieties and now it has lots of flowers and some fruits for the first time now. I grafted a giant Mediterranean variety for a forum member.

My advise is just graft something that will flower and fruit for you like Angel Red or Parfianka.

I haven't gotten into grafting yet, so will need to learn how to do it, but from what you say it sounds like grafting an Angel Red or Parfianka to my unproductive Eversweet is probably the way to go. How unfortunate that I just missed your cuttings!  I did look at some local nurseries for the Angel Red, but no one carries that variety here.

How do you get cuttings  for grafting by the way, if you don't know anyone who has them available? Are there any nurseries or reliable online sellers from whom it is possible to buy them?

[goldenmountain]

Enclosed is a photo of my Parfianka Pomegranate planted in the ground October 2023 at my costal location. This is the first year I have a few fruit forming. I suspect with a few more years of growth the tree production will go up significantly.

Johnny



Parfianka Pomegranate Tree (7-26-2025)

Your tree looks great! About the same size as mine it seems but it looks a lot greener. I wonder if my tree needs more nitrogen?

[goldenmountain]

I’m more inland (north county San Diego) but parfianka and dessertni have done well for me. Depending on where you are in So cal I have a small rooted parfianka cutting if you want to try that as an alternative.

That would be great. Do you think I would be able to graft that cutting, or is it already growing on its own?

I like your choice of name by the way - mangosteen, one of my favorite fruits!

[Pau]

I am at northern ca 9b. Mine is an eversweet or sweet, tons of flowers and it drops alot, then few fruits every year. I had pollinated and get 3x more fruit.

[goldenmountain]

I am at northern ca 9b. Mine is an eversweet or sweet, tons of flowers and it drops alot, then few fruits every year. I had pollinated and get 3x more fruit.

Interesting - I should give hand pollination a try next year and see if it makes a differenece.

I know they are supposedly self-pollinating, but could I also increase chances of fruiting if I get another pom tree and put it nearby?

[nullzero]

I am at northern ca 9b. Mine is an eversweet or sweet, tons of flowers and it drops alot, then few fruits every year. I had pollinated and get 3x more fruit.

Both are winners sweet and eversweet reliable producers for coastal SoCal.

[Big Wave]

I am at northern ca 9b. Mine is an eversweet or sweet, tons of flowers and it drops alot, then few fruits every year. I had pollinated and get 3x more fruit.

This is the key: hand pollination.
OP, it sounds like you're getting the flowers, but not the fruit. I am a mile from the beach, near LAX, and I have the same experience as Pau described.

I notice the bees and hummingbirds just aren't that interested in the flowers. On weekends, my daughter and I grab a couple of cheap paintbrushes (the kind you find at 99 cent store or Dollar Tree), and gently transfer pollen from one flower to another. It only takes a few minutes. It makes a big difference.

Another thing I noticed is sometimes, there won't be many femaile flowers, at least among the first flowers. The males flowers will just drop after a wihle. Eventually the femaile ones show up, and then  you're efforts will be rewarded with fruitset. Just pollinate all the flowers from the beginning, regardless, because some male flowers may actually be part female. Greg Alder explains it better:
https://gregalder.com/yardposts/pomegranate-flowers/

Close to the beach, the marine layer can have an influence too. If it's overcast all day, everday throuhout the Spring, pomegranates will flower less, and make less fruit. If it's warm and sunny, you can get a good crop.

I have Sweet Pomegranate (not Eversweet) and Parfianka. They're both good and seem to fair well here.

I hope this helps! Good luck in 2026 and let us know how things turn out.

- Isaac