Punica grandiflora hort. ex Steud. Rhoea punica St.-Lag. The pomegranate ( Punica granatum) is a fruit -bearing deciduous shrub in the family Lythraceae, subfamily Punicoideae, that grows between 5 and 10 m (16 and 33 ft) tall. The pomegranate is rich in symbolic and mythological associations in many cultures.