Which fruit has a lot of seeds inside? Unveiling the Most Seedy Fruits

January 2, 2026 •

3 min read

Botanically, many plants produce fruits with numerous seeds for propagation, and one fruit that stands out for its high seed count is the pomegranate. When asking which fruit has a lot of seeds inside, the answer often involves this vibrant, jewel-toned fruit.

Quick Summary

Pomegranates and figs lead the list of fruits with high seed counts. Other notable contenders include kiwi, passion fruit, and dragon fruit, each with hundreds of small seeds.

Key Points

Pomegranate Dominance: A single pomegranate can contain between 200 and 1,400 seeds, known as arils, depending on its size.
Kiwi's Tiny Seeds: Kiwi fruit is filled with hundreds to thousands of tiny, edible black seeds, with up to 2,500 in a single fruit.
Fig's Hidden Seeds: The crunchy texture of a fig comes from its numerous edible seeds, with large varieties potentially containing tens of thousands.
Passion Fruit's Pulpy Treasure: Inside the passion fruit are hundreds of small, hard seeds surrounded by tangy, edible pulp.
Biological Strategy: A high seed count is a reproductive strategy that maximizes a plant's chances of successful propagation and dispersal by animals.
Seed Benefits: The seeds in many of these fruits, such as kiwi and dragon fruit, contain beneficial nutrients like fiber and omega fatty acids.

The King of Seeds: The Pomegranate

The pomegranate (Punica granatum) is well-known for containing a large number of seeds. Depending on the size and variety, a single fruit can hold between 200 and over 1,400 seeds, called arils. On average, pomegranates contain 600 to 800 arils, which are surrounded by a juicy, edible pulp and are rich in antioxidants, fiber, and vitamins. Consuming the arils with the pulp provides a sweet and tangy experience. The pomegranate's structure supports a high volume of seed production and distribution, cementing its status as a fruit with numerous seeds.

Other Fruits with an Abundance of Seeds

Beyond the pomegranate, many other fruits contain a significant number of seeds, crucial for their reproduction and offering unique culinary characteristics.

Kiwi: This fruit is packed with tiny black seeds. A single kiwi can have between 500 and 2,500 edible seeds mixed with its green flesh.
Figs: Figs are inverted flower clusters where the edible part contains numerous tiny individual fruits, each with a single seed. Large figs can have thousands of these small seeds.
Passion Fruit: This tropical fruit has a cavity filled with pulp and many small, dark seeds. There can be up to 250 seeds per fruit, enclosed in a fragrant, tangy pulp.
Dragon Fruit: This cactus fruit features many small, edible black seeds distributed throughout its flesh. The seeds contain omega-3 and omega-9 fatty acids.
Papaya: The center of a papaya contains a cluster of black, peppery seeds. While often removed, these seeds can be eaten.
Watermelon: While seedless varieties exist, traditional watermelons contain many black seeds within their flesh.
Guava: The guava fruit has numerous small, hard seeds that are typically consumed along with the pulp.

The Biological Purpose of Numerous Seeds

A high seed count is a common and effective reproductive strategy for plants. This method offers several evolutionary advantages:

Increased Propagation Potential: Producing many seeds enhances the likelihood that some will grow into new plants.
Dispersal: Many seedy fruits attract animals, which eat the fruit and disperse the seeds through their waste over a wide area. Some seeds, like those in passion fruit, have hard coatings to survive digestion.
Environmental Adaptation: For certain plants, such as parasitic species like orchids, releasing thousands of tiny seeds aids in finding a suitable host for growth.

Comparison of Fruits with Many Seeds


Feature	Pomegranate	Kiwi	Fig	Passion Fruit
Seed Count	200–1,400 per fruit	500–2,500 per fruit	100s to 100,000+	Up to 250 per fruit
Seed Appearance	Juicy red arils	Tiny, crunchy black seeds	Small, edible, numerous	Small, hard, dark brown/black
Edibility	Edible, sweet pulp	Edible with flesh	Edible and integral to the texture	Edible with surrounding pulp
Taste Profile	Sweet and tangy	Sweet and tart	Sweet, jam-like	Sweet and tangy/tart

Culinary Uses of Seedy Fruits

Fruits with many seeds offer diverse culinary applications. Pomegranate arils enhance salads and desserts. Kiwi can be eaten alone, in smoothies, or fruit salads. Figs are good fresh, dried, or in various dishes. Passion fruit pulp is used in drinks and toppings. Dragon fruit seeds provide crunch and nutrients. Papaya seeds are sometimes used as a spice or in dressings. More information on seedy fruits can be found through resources like the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Conclusion

Exploring which fruit has a lot of seeds inside reveals several contenders, with the pomegranate notable for its high number of arils. Other fruits like figs, kiwi, passion fruit, and dragon fruit also contain numerous seeds essential for reproduction. Beyond their biological role, these seeds add to the fruits' appeal with unique flavors, textures, and nutritional value. The abundance of seeds in these fruits is a testament to the efficient reproductive strategies found in nature.

Frequently Asked Questions

While it is difficult to definitively name a single fruit with the 'most' seeds, the fig can contain a tremendous number, with some varieties holding tens of thousands of tiny seeds. Pomegranates are another contender, with an average of 600–800 seeds per fruit.

Many fruits with numerous seeds have edible seeds, including pomegranates, kiwi, figs, passion fruit, and dragon fruit. The seeds in these fruits are either soft and small enough to be consumed with the flesh or are part of the main edible portion.

Yes, pomegranate seeds, or arils, are very healthy. They are packed with antioxidants, fiber, and vitamins C and K, offering various health benefits.

From a biological perspective, producing many seeds is a strategy to increase the chances of successful reproduction. The seeds are often dispersed by animals who eat the fruit, helping the plant spread its offspring.

Yes, unlike the seedless Cavendish bananas commonly found in stores, wild bananas are typically full of large, hard seeds. Modern bananas are sterile hybrids cultivated to be seedless.

A fig is a special type of fruit derived from an inverted flower cluster. What we eat is this cluster, and the crunchy bits inside are the actual tiny, individual fruits, each containing a single seed.

Kiwi fruit and dragon fruit both have numerous edible, small black seeds. The seeds add a pleasant crunch and nutritional value to the fruits.