The pomegranate is Native from Iran and the Himalayas in northern India.
Pomegranates contain some pf the highest levels of antioxidants ellagic acid and punicalagin that may lower risk of heart disease and inhibit other diseases.
Madame Legrelle (California Sunset) – ornamental pomegranate
We were very excited to discover 2 of these impressive old tree/ bushes in Penn Valley.
In 1900’s California, this ornamental pomegranate was known as ‘California Sunset and also as ‘Madame Legrelle’ after a European horticulturist who popularized it. However, it most likely originated in either the area of what is currently Iran or India. This Fruitless variety is thought to be 1000’s of years old and is purely ornamental with no large edible fruits.
Sweet Pink Pomegranate
VERY RARE PLANT
The tired, old mother tree managed to produce about 4 fruit in 2020 and they were amazing! They are very sweet with very little to no astringency -pure sweetness. The skin is a dark Pink to light red and the fruit inside are also a light pink to a dark red. We do not know how they will behave or produce, but we are very excited about this pomegranate!
The Mother Tree is on an old homestead in Auburn. We have only been able to grow a few of these pomegranate plants because the old, grandmother, pomegranate tree does not throw out much wood to propagate from. These plants are expensive because they are rare.
Old White Pomegranate
Rare Old Sweet White Pomegranate
This old pomegranate tree produces very sweet and flavorful fruit with very little to no tartness. Seems to be productive. The skin is whitish yellow and can get a strong pinkish red blush on the sunny side. The edible seed coat of the pomegranate seeds are botanically called the sarcotesta and in this fruit it can vary from whitish pink to red.
This twisted old tree is over 100 years old and we have re-found at least 2 of these trees outside of Auburn, CA and Forest Hill, CA.
Wonderful Pomegranate
Wonderful Pomegranates have become the standard Large, Red, Sweet and Tart fruits you see in abundance at the stores and farmer’s markets and bottled into juice. It is hard to beat! Their equally sweet and tart flavor is indeed Wonderfull!
Wonderful Pomegranate originated as a cutting in Florida and was propagated prolifically in California in 1896. This one was taken from an older tree in Grass Valley which is home to California’s 2 richest gold mines; the Empire Mine and the North Star Mine. The booming industry brought people and plants from around the world including many Cornish Tin miners from the UK. You can still pick up a Pasty or Celebrate a Cornish Christmas here.