Diospyros virginiana

• BOTANICAL NAME: Diospyros virginiana
• PRONUNCIATION: di-OS-pir-os ver-jin-i-A-na
• COMMON NAME: Persimmon
• FAMILY: Ebenaceae
• NATIVITY: Connecticut south to Florida, west to Kansas and Texas.
• GROWTH HABIT: Upright tree to 40' or 60' in height with slender oval crown.
• HARDINESS: Zone 5-9
• CULTURE: Moist, well-drained soils provide for the best growth but the plant will tolerate hot, dry, poor soils. Tolerant of city conditions.
• SUCCESSIONAL STATUS:  Successional
• FACULTATIVE STATUS:  Facultative
• LANDSCAPE USE: Adaptable tree for naturalizing and poor sites. Fruit will attract wildlife.
• FOLIAGE: Alternate, simple 2 1/2" - 5 1/2" long. Ovate or elliptical, acuminate apex and rounded base. Dark green in summer. Can have good yellow or reddish purple fall color.
• BUDS: Reddish black, 1/8" long, with two overlapping scales.
• BARK: Mature bark thick and distinctly blocky. Dark-gray color.
• FRUIT: Yellowish orange, 1" - 1 1/2" berry that is vary tasty when ripe. Calyx persistent on female trees, 3-forked peduncles persistent on male trees. Dioecious tree.
• PROPAGATION: Seed, root cuttings, grafting.
• PESTS: None serious.
• CULTIVARS:

Click here for a glossary