'Lyubimyi' is also known as 'DPUN 121', 'Favorite', 'Lyubimy', 'Любимый'.
It was found growing in the wild! This cultivar was test grown in Russia at the 'Kara-Kala Turkmenistan Experimental Station'.
That 'Experimental Station' donated cuttings of 'Lyubimyi' which were imported to the USA 'by Thompson Southwestern Arboretum' on January 22nd 1999. Every cultivar that the 'Experimental Station' helped to import to the USA was labeled as a Russian pomegranate, regardless of their original origin.
This cultivar was supposedly imported from southern Russia in 1991 and trademarked as 'Favorite', by Jim Gilbert 'the owner of Northwoods Nursery' in Oregon, this was about 8 years before 'Thompson Southwestern Arboretum' imported 'Lyubimyi' to the USA. In Russian 'Lyubimyy' means 'Favorite', so it certainly would not surprise me if 'Favorite' could really be 'Lyubimyi'.
'Lyubimyi' is said to be more cold hardy than Salavatski. It's cold hardy, to at least -15 Celsius '5 degrees Fahrenheit', most likely more cold hardy than that. When big enough this cultivar can survive late frosts.
This dwarf sized cultivar produces small fruits, with a pinkish red skin. It's arils are 'dark red', it's juice is a somewhat transparent red, and is sweet - very sweet 'with a good sweet taste'. The seeds inside it's arils are hard. This cultivar produces young.
It's fruit ripens in September, and in October.
It's blooms are a vivid bright orangy-red! The bloom time of this cultivar is 'May to June' or 'July to September'. This cultivar is self fertile (Self-fruitful).
This cultivar might reach up to 6 feet in height, and 6 feet in width, and it's very resistant to drought.
