Punica granatum ‘Chico’

The pomegranate is a fruit-bearing, deciduous shrub or tree in the family Lythraceae, subfamily Punicoideae, that grows to between 1.5–5 metres (5–16 ft) tall. Rich in symbolic and mythological associations in many cultures, and mentioned in the Old Testament, it originated in the region spanning the Caucasus and the Iranian plateau - including modern-day Iran, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan - and down to Pakistan. Pomegranates were first domesticated by ancient Iranians in the Iranian plateau and nearby regions about 5,000 years ago. They are extensively cultivated for their fruit.