American Persimmon
Diospyros virginiana
Also listed as Diospyros mosieri, Diospyros angustifolia
Also known as Common Persimmon, Persimmon, Eastern Persimmon
Climate Match for your location
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A native deciduous tree prized for its sweet, orange fruit that ripens in fall after the leaves drop. Produces attractive dark foliage and white flowers in spring, with minimal maintenance requirements once established.
Why grow it
American persimmon offers cold hardiness and drought tolerance superior to Asian persimmon varieties in northern climates, making it useful where tender cultivars fail. The fruit develops exceptional sweetness after frost and requires no thinning or pest management typical of commercial fruit trees, suiting low-input systems. It also provides wildlife value through fall and winter fruit persistence and serves multiple functions as ornamental, food, and wildlife resource in a single planting.
Watch out for
Fruit ripeness is difficult to judge visually and varies considerably between individual trees and seasons, sometimes requiring patience or trial to determine optimal harvest timing. Trees can take 3 to 4 years to begin productive fruiting, and yields may fluctuate annually. Fallen fruit can create cleanup work in managed landscapes, and the sticky pulp may stain hardscapes or walkways if trees are sited near them.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Ebenaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern United States
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia
Seasonality
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Sub-canopy
Smaller trees living beneath the canopy.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
A native deciduous tree prized for its sweet, orange fruit that ripens in fall after the leaves drop. Produces attractive dark foliage and white flowers in spring, with minimal maintenance requirements once established.
Climate Match for your location
See how well American Persimmon grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
American persimmon offers cold hardiness and drought tolerance superior to Asian persimmon varieties in northern climates, making it useful where tender cultivars fail. The fruit develops exceptional sweetness after frost and requires no thinning or pest management typical of commercial fruit trees, suiting low-input systems. It also provides wildlife value through fall and winter fruit persistence and serves multiple functions as ornamental, food, and wildlife resource in a single planting.
Watch out for
Fruit ripeness is difficult to judge visually and varies considerably between individual trees and seasons, sometimes requiring patience or trial to determine optimal harvest timing. Trees can take 3 to 4 years to begin productive fruiting, and yields may fluctuate annually. Fallen fruit can create cleanup work in managed landscapes, and the sticky pulp may stain hardscapes or walkways if trees are sited near them.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Ebenaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern United States
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia
Seasonality
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Sub-canopy
Smaller trees living beneath the canopy.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
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