“Soft-seeded type — 'desert tea' on camera resolves to Desertnyi.”
Background
A special selection from the Turkmenistan pomegranate collection of breeder Dr. Gregory Levin, distributed in the U.S. through Dave Wilson Nursery. The name translates as 'dessert.' It is not a mainstream commercial variety and mainstream documentation is thin. The UA arboretum notes pomegranate appears in Egyptian mythology and art, the Old Testament, and the Babylonian Talmud.
Distinguishing traits
Unusual look: light orange to terracotta rind with dark red arils. Firm texture with a sweet-tart flavor and citrus/orange-juice overtones; very soft edible seed. Harvests October-November; self-fruitful. The UA arboretum describes pomegranate as a branched, spiny shrub or small tree of 16-20 feet with showy red vase-shaped flowers.
Desert care — zone 9b
- Chill hours
- 200 hours.
- Cold hardiness
- USDA zones 8-10; hardy to roughly 10°F. Protect young plants in hard freezes.
- Heat tolerance
- Heat tolerant; suited to hot arid climates.
- Water
- Regular deep watering for fruit size; drought tolerant once established. The UA arboretum rates water use as low, calling it extremely drought tolerant.
- Soil
- Well-drained; tolerates alkaline soils. The UA arboretum notes it thrives on calcareous alkaline soil as well as deep acidic loam.
- Sun exposure
- Full sun.
Where to buy
- Planting Justice
- Restoring Eden