Pomegranates

So it seems that pomegranates can in fact grow in Washington, DC. Who knew? We have had a mysterious plant/tree/what we thought was a weed growing in our front yard since we moved in. This plant/tree/weed has actually doubled in height since last November. Many a time we have been tempted to chop it down, burn it, or slowly kill it off with weed sprays. However, this past weekend my mother-in-law, who was stopping thru on her way to Pittsburgh, told us it was a pomegranate tree. And sure enough those odd looking orbs once cut open yielded sour yet tasty pomegranate seeds, more technically known as juice sacs.

Washington, DC is about as far north as pomegranates can grow. They are native to the Middle East and grow in hot dry weather. Humidity can have an adverse affect on this plant which is why I think ours has doubled in size and buds bright orange flowers as opposed to scarlet or white.

It is amazing how differently I now look at this tree knowing that it is a pomegranate tree. I once looked upon it with disdain and hatred counting down the days when we could cut it down and plant something in its place. I now feel hip and chic, for I own a pomegranate tree!