How can I set the UINavigationbar with gradient color?

I want to set the UINavigationbar backgroundColor to a gradient color where I would like to set it via an array of colors to create a Gradient, ideally, as accessible methods inside UINavigationBar to change its color to this gradient.

Any suggestions? (Aside from setting an image manually as the background image of the navigation bar)

Create gradient layer and add it as background of navigation bar.

    CAGradientLayer *gradient = [CAGradientLayer layer];
    gradient.frame = self.navigationController.navigationBar.bounds;
    gradient.colors = [NSArray arrayWithObjects:(id)[[UIColor whiteColor] CGColor], (id)[[UIColor blackColor] CGColor], nil];
    [self.navigationController.navigationBar setBackgroundImage:[self imageFromLayer:gradient] forBarMetrics:UIBarMetricsDefault];

For creating image from layer.

- (UIImage *)imageFromLayer:(CALayer *)layer
{
    UIGraphicsBeginImageContext([layer frame].size);

    [layer renderInContext:UIGraphicsGetCurrentContext()];
    UIImage *outputImage = UIGraphicsGetImageFromCurrentImageContext();

    UIGraphicsEndImageContext();

    return outputImage;
}

One more thing, there is one library available in github : CRGradientNavigationBar you can also use this library.