Diospyros virginiana, common persimmon

By Hanna LeFlore (2020)

Persimmon fruit

The common persimmon is a medium-to-large deciduous tree native to North America. Growing to a height of 40 to 60 feet and up 35 feet wide, the tree is irregularly shaped with an overall oval or pyramidal shape. The bark is dark-grey to black and distinctively blocky (Gilman and Watson, 1993). The pendulous branches hold simple, ovate shaped leaves in an alternate arrangement. Leaves are green until fall when they change to a yellow-green color. Yellow, bell-shaped flowers bloom from April to June hiding under the leaves. The best part of the persimmon is the sweet fruit produced in fall. When ripe, the fruit is a deep, orange color berry about 2 inches long (Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, 2015).

Common persimmon trees are well adapted to a variety of soil conditions including sand, loam, and clay and varying degrees of soil pH, which makes this tree suitable for many sites including urban and drought-tolerant areas in hardiness zones 4B through 9 (Gilman and Watson, 1993).

Blocky bark of D. virginiana

In Greek, Diospyros translates to the fruit of the gods. The common persimmon is dioecious, meaning that fruit will only produce on female trees if male trees are present in the area (Merriwether, 2008). The fruit produced is best when ripe, tasting like dates; however, an unripe persimmon fruit is very astringent and will suck the moisture from the mouth!  Native Americans utilized the common persimmon by making persimmon bread and storing the dried fruit. Persimmon can also be made into jams, jelly, or candied, providing a nutritional value of fiber, antioxidants, and vitamins C and B (Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, 2015; Merriwether, 2008).  The sweet fruit is loved by wildlife that then spread the seeds along with their droppings. D. virginiana also serves as a host plant for luna moth caterpillars (Butterflies and Moths of North America).  In the landscape, the common persimmon offers purpose and a naturalistic feel with its irregular shape and sweet “fruit of the gods” that attracts wildlife!

Yellow, bell-shaped flowers

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. 2015. Diospyros virginiana. 10 Sept. 2020. https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=divi5  

Gilman, E. F., and D. G. Watson. 1993. Diospyros virginiana. 10 Sept. 2020. http://hort.ufl.edu/trees/DIOVIRA.pdf

Merriwether, M. 2008. Persimmon – Virginiana. 10 Sept. 2020. https://www.foragingtexas.com/2008/07/persimmons.html

Butterflies and Moths of North America. N.d. Luna Moth. 10 Sept. 2020. https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Actias-luna

Images obtained from: www.wildflower.org