Pomegranate

Some years ago, friends gave us a large pot with a pomegranate tree in it.

I have looked after it well through all seasons, pandemics and other issues and now it has THREE FLOWERS!!!!

A little research tells me that some pomegranates produce flowers only but no fruit and others do produce flowers and fruit.

I delved into the inside of this bushy tree to find the label still attached.

It read “ Punica granatum……..attractive, small, bushy tree producing striking, scarlet flowers in August followed by large round fruits, only ripening fully in a long, hot summer”

Here’s hoping!

A little research revealed that the pomegranate plant, which can be a large shrub or small tree, has two types of flowers on the same tree: bisexual flowers and functional male flowers. Bisexual flowers are female-fertile and can produce fruit, while functional male flowers are female-sterile and eventually fall off. This condition, called functional andromonoecy, can sometimes reduce yields because the male flowers can't produce fruit. 

For the moment our three flowers are identifying as “they”

PS I will use a small, delicate brush to pollinate the flowers if I don’t see any insect pollinators doing the job.