Punica granatum (Pomegranate)

Greetings, my name is Pomegranate and I am here to wish you a very happy winter season. If you prefer to be more formal, you may call me Punica granatum. You can recognise me from my pointed leaves, large red flowers, and ruby-like fruit.  

On the night of the winter solstice, the longest night of the year, friends and family gather to eat and drink in the traditional Iranian festival is called Yalda Night. During these celebrations, my fruit – the pomegranate — is the star of the show with its beautiful jewel-like flesh and delicious, sweet taste. The crimson glow of the fruit symbolises the victory of light over darkness. 

Pomegranates are healthy to eat, useful in medicines, and extracts from my fruit are added to beauty products. It has been used as a source of food and medicine for thousands of years across many civilizations. Trees like me are generally pest-free and disease-free. I am over 100 years old and I expect Chelsea Physic Garden to be my home for many years to come.