In 1986 'Plant Delights Nursery, Inc.' of Raleigh, NC selected the two tallest seedlings from a batch of dwarf pomegranate seedlings, which survived their '-9 degrees Fahrenheit winter', 'with minimal damage'. One of those seedlings they named 'Eight Ball', due to the cultivar's fruit reminding them of an 'Eight Ball'. This cultivar was selected for being a dwarf that was 'not too small', for being so cold hardy, and for the fruit's large size/nearly black skin.
