The Punica granatum, or pomegranate tree, is a highly sought-after addition to many gardens, valued equally for its brilliant ornamental blossoms and its unique, antioxidant-rich fruit. While the prospect of growing your own pomegranates is appealing, the initial purchase price is just the first consideration in the total cost of ownership. The price you pay for a pomegranate tree is highly variable and depends on its size, the cultivar selected, the source of the purchase, and the geographic location of the buyer. Understanding these variables provides a clearer picture of the overall investment.
Initial Purchase Price Breakdown
The cost of a pomegranate tree is most directly correlated with its maturity and size at the time of sale. The least expensive option is acquiring bare-root cuttings or small seedlings, which typically range from $10 to $35 for an unrooted set or a small, dormant plant up to one foot tall. These options require the most time and care to establish.
Moving up in size, a young tree sold in a small container, such as a 1-gallon pot, will generally cost between $25 and $50. These trees are usually one or two years old and have an established root system, offering a higher survival rate than cuttings. They provide a balance between affordability and immediate planting success.
Medium-sized trees in 3-gallon or 5-gallon containers represent the most common purchase size for home gardeners, and these command a price between $60 and $100. A 5-gallon tree is usually three to five years old, is substantial enough to begin producing fruit sooner, and is easier to transport and plant than larger specimens. Semi-mature trees, sometimes sold in 7-gallon or 15-gallon containers, can cost between $90 and $160, offering near-immediate landscape presence and fruit production.
Significantly older, large specimen trees, often sold in 24-inch boxes for landscaping projects, can cost substantially more, ranging from $350 to over $700. These specimens require specialized transport and planting equipment. The increased price reflects the years of care and nursery space required to bring the tree to this advanced stage of maturity.
Factors That Influence Pricing
Beyond the physical size of the plant, the specific variety of Punica granatum chosen influences the price. Popular, high-yielding fruiting cultivars like ‘Wonderful’ or ‘Sweet’ are widely available and often serve as a price benchmark. Cultivars prized for unique characteristics, such as the soft-seeded ‘Parfianka’ or cold-hardy types like ‘Salavatski,’ may be priced slightly higher, starting around $35 to $40 for a small tree.
Ornamental or dwarf varieties, such as ‘Nana,’ valued for their flowers and compact size rather than their fruit, can also carry a premium depending on their rarity. The source of the tree also impacts pricing. Big-box stores may offer lower prices on common varieties due to volume purchasing. Conversely, specialized fruit tree nurseries and online suppliers often charge more but offer a wider selection of unique or newly developed cultivars.
Online purchases, while convenient, introduce the significant cost of specialized shipping. For a 3- to 5-gallon tree, this shipping can easily add $20 to $50 or more to the final cost. Geographic location also affects local nursery prices, as trees sold in regions where pomegranates are not easily grown, like the Northeastern United States, may be priced higher due to lower local supply.
Long-Term Investment and Care Costs
The financial investment in a pomegranate tree continues after the initial purchase. Pomegranates prefer slightly alkaline soil, meaning gardeners may need to periodically purchase soil amendments like dolomitic limestone to raise the pH level, with a 50-pound bag costing approximately $6 to $19. Container-grown trees require specialized potting mixes, a recurring expense when the tree needs repotting or refreshing.
Regular fertilization is necessary to support fruit production, requiring the annual purchase of a balanced fruit tree fertilizer. A small bag of organic granular fertilizer formulated for fruit trees can range from $15 to $25 and typically lasts for a year or more for a single established tree. Specialized annual care kits, which include fertilizer and micronutrients, are also available for around $35.
Pest and disease management is another variable expense, though pomegranates are generally robust. Treatment for common fungal issues, such as leaf spot, often involves purchasing a liquid copper fungicide concentrate, available for about $18 to $25 per bottle. Basic tools like quality pruning shears are a one-time purchase, ranging from $15 to $40, required for annual winter pruning.
In colder climates that push the plant’s hardiness zone, winter protection materials may be required to protect the tree from freeze damage. This can include purchasing burlap, tree wraps, or specialized cold weather tree blankets, which can cost $30 or more per season. These costs, while small individually, constitute the ongoing financial commitment.