Punica granatum 'California Sunset'

Also known as ‘Madame Legrelle’

Like the vivid brushstrokes of an Impressionist painting, Punica granatum ‘California Sunset’ dazzles with fully double, coral-red blooms streaked and splashed with creamy white. Each flower is a fluted marvel, looking more like a ruffled carnation than a pomegranate blossom. Though rarely fruiting—like many of the highly double cultivars—it earns its keep in the garden as a long-blooming ornamental showpiece from early summer through fall.

This exceptional cultivar has a fascinating journey: it originated in France in the 1800s as ‘Madame Legrelle’, a name still recognized in European horticultural circles. The plant was later popularized in the United States, particularly in California, where its dazzling flowers and heat tolerance earned it a place in many Mediterranean-style gardens. Renamed ‘California Sunset’ for American nurseries, it remains a beloved ornamental choice for gardeners seeking color and charm without the mess of fruit.

Growing as a medium-sized, deciduous shrub, it thrives in sunny to lightly shaded locations and appreciates fertile, well-drained soil. Though the species Punica granatum hails from the Middle East and has been cultivated since antiquity for both fruit and folklore, this cultivar is strictly a feast for the eyes.

A perfect addition to cottage gardens, mixed borders, or as a container specimen where its blooms can be admired up close, ‘California Sunset’ reminds us that not all pomegranates are grown for fruit—some are grown for beauty alone.