7 Reasons There’s No Fruit on Your Pomegranate Tree

Most gardeners plant pomegranate trees with hopes of one day harvesting juicy fruits. But what are you to do if your tree never fruits? Farmer Briana Yablonski explains several reasons why there are no pomegranates on your tree and shares how to get your plant to produce fruit.

A blooming pomegranate tree without fruit showcases vibrant, deep red flowers with ruffled petals, nestled among glossy green leaves.

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When you think of backyard orchards, apples, peaches, or blueberries might come to mind. But did you know you can successfully grow pomegranate trees outdoors in zones 8 and above? With the right care and patience, you can enjoy homegrown versions of these unique, juicy fruits.

However, pomegranate trees don’t always bear fruit. They might produce flowers that drop before setting fruit, or they may not flower at all. Either way, dealing with a lack of pomergranates can be frustrating.

It’s helpful to examine some common reasons why your pomegranate tree isn’t producing. After reading through the list, you can determine if any of the reasons apply to your situation. To get you started, I’ll introduce seven possible reasons for a lack of fruit and offer solutions to help fix the problem.

Tree Is Too Young

A young tree has slender, arching branches with glossy, elongated green leaves that taper to a point.
Young trees focus on root growth before flowering and maturing.

Since pomegranate trees grow as woody perennials, they don’t produce flowers in their first year of growth. Instead, they spend their energy growing a robust root system and forming lush foliage. After a few years of development, the plants can begin exerting energy on flower and fruit production.

If your tree is young and looks healthy despite a lack of pomergranates, it’s likely too immature to flower. Most pomegranate trees will begin producing free in the second or third year after planting. Numerous factors impact when a tree starts flowering;  the tree’s size at planting, the climate, sunlight, and water supply all impact when flowers form.

You should also be aware that trees will produce a small amount of flowers and fruit in their first year of production. If you only spot a handful of flowers, don’t fret! The trees will produce more flowers and fruit as they mature. However, if your plant isn’t producing by year five, there is likely another cause to blame.

Not Enough Light

The tree has slender, arching branches adorned with glossy, lance-shaped leaves and vibrant, round fruits that ripen to a rich red color.
These trees need full sun for optimal health and growth.

Pomegranate trees thrive in full sun. They can tolerate a few hours of morning or afternoon shade but require at least eight hours of direct light to remain healthy. A lack of light can lead to stunted growth, increased susceptibility to disease, leggy plants, and/or a lack of flowers.

If your plant is still young and you’ve realized you planted it in an area that is too shady, you can dig up the plant and move it to a more suitable location. The best time to transplant is the late winter or early spring—you want to aim for the time just before bud break occurs.

This time is ideal for two reasons. First, the tree will be less susceptible to stress if you dig it up while it’s dormant, and the spring warmth will encourage the tree to settle into its new home.

When looking for a suitable location, study the light at different times of the year. Since the sun’s angle changes throughout the year, an area may receive only an hour of shade in the summer but six hours in the winter. The best location is often an open area free of obstructions or the south-facing side of a home or building.

Not Enough Water

Close-up of thin, flexible branches covered in smooth, vibrant green leaves arranged in pairs along the stems, glistening with water droplets.
Regular irrigation ensures healthy growth during dry conditions.

Although pomegranates are known for their drought tolerance, they still require regular irrigation to thrive. An adequate moisture supply is especially important in the first few years of a tree’s growth and during the months of fruit development.

Since pomegranates produce flowers in the spring and ripe fruits in the fall, you should pay special attention to summer irrigation. Hot, dry weather can quickly cause drought stress, which can lead to flower drop or inhibit pomergranate development.

When pomegranates lack water, they close their stomata (leaf pores) to conserve moisture. The closed pores keep water in the plants, but the plants also experience trouble cooling themselves.

Researchers have found that pomegranate trees exhibit decreased vegetative growth and fruit yields when water availability falls below the ideal level. If you underwater the trees for multiple years, the effects can compound and lead to weak trees with poor canopies.

So, how often should you water your plants to keep them healthy? Experts at the University of Florida recommend irrigating deeply about once a week when conditions are dry. It’s important to keep your irrigation schedule as consistent as possible throughout the growing season. A sudden increase in water after a dry spell can lead fruits to split open.

You can water the trees by hand with a watering can or hose. However, installing drip irrigation on your trees can make it easier to water. You can also set the drip system on a timer to ensure your plant receives a consistent supply of water.

Too Much Water

A close-up of a small pinkish-green pomegranate with a distinct star-shaped tip hanging from a thin branch, surrounded by lance-shaped leaves and covered with water droplets.
Balanced irrigation and good drainage promote healthy tree growth.

Like all plants, pomegranate trees need water to thrive. However, too much water can cause just as much stress as not enough. This stress can lead to problems with flower production, fruit set, and maturation, all of which can lead to a lack of pomegranates.

So, how much water is too much? A good rule of thumb is to water your plants deeply at least once a week during the first growing season. If it rains sufficiently, you can skip your weekly watering. You can also decrease irrigation in the late fall through early spring; during this time, you only need to water if the soil is dry.

Along with noting how often you water, you should also look at the soil and drainage. Pomegranates can grow in soil high in clay and sand, as well as anything in between. However, the trees require sufficient soil drainage to remain healthy. If you notice that water is forming puddles, you should work to improve the drainage.

Unfortunately, improving soil drainage is difficult after your pomegranate is in the ground. However, you can alter the soil before planting. Aerating the ground with a digging fork or broadfork will improve drainage. You can also mix in compost to raise the level of soil organic matter and improve compacted soils.

Poor Pollination

A honey bee is nestled inside a vibrant red pomegranate blossom.
Encouraging pollinators boosts flower-to-fruit conversion in gardens.

If your pomegranate plant produces plenty of flowers but no fruit, it could be a sign of improper pollination. Pomegranate flowers are often self-pollinated, which means the female parts of a flower receive pollen from the same flower. However, cross-pollination also often occurs in pomegranates. This type of pollination occurs when pollinators like hummingbirds or bees transfer pollen from one flower to another.

Although cross-pollination isn’t necessary, it does increase yield. Therefore, a lack of pollinators can lead to limited pomergranate production.

One way to increase cross-pollination is to bring more pollinators to your garden. Providing a water source, growing diverse flowering plants, and avoiding broad-spectrum pesticides will all encourage pollinators to visit your garden. Planting native plants will also provide habitat and food for beneficial pollinators like butterflies and bees.

If you’re desperate, you can hand pollinate your pomegranate flowers. This involves using a small paintbrush to transfer the pollen from one flower’s stamens to another’s stigma. While this may sound complicated, it simply involves gently swirling the paintbrush in the middle of one open flower and then completing the same process on another flower.

Improper Pruning

Close-up of a gardener's hands using green pruning shears to trim slender, arching branches of a fruit tree with glossy, lance-shaped green leaves in a sunny garden.
Light pruning promotes healthy growth without sacrificing blooms.

In general, pomegranates don’t require heavy pruning. Removing dead and crossing branches is all the plants need to remain healthy. However, you can also prune your pomegranate to encourage it to grow as a trailing shrub or upright tree.

No matter what type of pruning you undertake, avoid removing too much wood at once. Not only will aggressive pruning stress the plant, but it can also remove fruiting wood.

Pomegranates form flowers and fruit on second-year wood, so removing too much woody growth can remove all second-year wood. If you do this, you’ll end up with no flowers and fruit!

You’re Growing a Flowering Pomegranate

The tree is adorned with striking crimson blooms, standing out against its dense, dark green foliage.
Choose a reliable cultivar for consistent yields and delicious harvests.

If you’re thinking about adding a pomegranate to your garden, you should be aware there are two main types: fruiting and flowering. While both types will produce large, beautiful flowers, the flowering varieties will not produce fruits. Therefore, don’t just grab a pomegranate plant from a nursery and expect it to fruit.

If you want to enjoy pomegranate fruits, it’s best to pick a time-testing fruiting variety. ‘Wonderful’ and ‘Texas Pink’ both produce delicious red fruits filled with juicy arils. You can expect to begin harvesting the fruit two to three years after planting.

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