Perrsimmons

Persimmons

Diospyros virginiana
American Persimmon / Common Persimmon

Diospyros virginiana is a deciduous native fruit tree with a rounded to oval crown, dark blocky bark, glossy green leaves, and small orange to reddish-orange fruits that ripen in fall. The foliage may turn yellow, orange, or reddish-purple in autumn, and the fruit is highly ornamental as well as edible when fully ripe. It is useful for native plantings, wildlife gardens, edible landscapes, naturalized areas, woodland edges, and larger properties. Missouri Botanical Garden lists American persimmon as a Missouri-native tree growing 35–60 ft. tall.

Type: Deciduous fruit tree
Mature Size: 25–35 ft. wide × 35–60 ft. tall
USDA Zones: 4a–9b
Form: Rounded to oval shade tree; often upright when young, broader with age
Light: Full sun to part shade
Soil / Water: Average, well-drained soil; tolerates dry to occasionally moist conditions once established
Bloom Time / Length: Late spring to early summer; small, inconspicuous flowers
Wildlife: Fruit attracts birds, deer, foxes, raccoons, opossums, and other wildlife; flowers support bees

Features & Landscape Uses:
Excellent for wildlife plantings, edible gardens, native landscapes, woodland edges, restoration areas, and large naturalized sites. Female trees produce the edible persimmons, but many seedlings are either male or female, so fruiting usually requires a female tree and a nearby male pollinator unless using a self-fertile cultivar such as ‘Meader’. Missouri Botanical Garden lists ‘Meader’ as a self-fertile cultivar that grows about 20–30 ft. tall.

Care:
Plant in full sun for best fruiting. Provide regular water during establishment, then water mainly during extended drought. Persimmons are generally low-maintenance once established, but seedling trees can be slow to bear fruit. Harvest only when fruits are fully soft and ripe; unripe American persimmons are very astringent.

Plant type

Fruit Tree

Height

35-60'

Width

25-35'

Hardiness zones

4–9

Sunlight

Full Sun, Partial Shade

Growth rate

Moderate

Bloom time

Early Summer, Late Spring

Leaf color

Dark Green

Fall color

Orange Red

Fruit color

Orange Red

Attracts

Bees, Birds

Soil

Average, Well Drained

Landscape use

Fruit, Home Orchard

Shape

Oval, Rounded, Upright

Fragrant

Yes

Drought tolerant

No