Diospyros virginiana

Common Names

Common Persimmon, American Persimmon, Persimmon, Sugar Plum, Possum Apples, Possumwood

Summary

Diospyros virginiana, commonly called American Persimmon, is a deciduous tree in the ebony family native to the eastern and central United States. It typically grows 35–60 ft tall and 20–35 ft wide, with a single dominant trunk, oval to pyramidal crown, and thick, dark gray bark that breaks into blocky plates. Leaves are glossy dark green above, turning yellow in autumn; fragrant white to greenish-yellow flowers appear in late spring. The wood is very hard and has long been used for shuttles and golf-club heads. It is usually dioecious, requiring male and female trees for fruit, though some cultivars are self-fertile, and it tolerates a wide range of soils and drought once established, thriving in full sun to partial shade.

Fruits are orange to reddish-orange berries ripening in fall after a hard frost and edible only when fully ripe, with strong astringency when green. Fruiting depends on presence of a male pollenizer, and some trees bear fruit while others do not; the fruit feeds wildlife and can be used in desserts, jellies, syrups, or pies. The tree often forms root suckers and can occur in a variety of habitats, including forests and bottomlands; it is relatively pest- and disease-resistant though leaf spot can occur. Some cultivars, such as Early Golden and Meader, are selected for fruit quality and self-fertility; the species provides wildlife value, ornamental value, and historical uses for wood and ethnobotany.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

35-60 feet

Spread

20-35 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 4a-9b

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full Sun; tolerates partial afternoon shade.

Soil Type

Moist, well-drained soil

Soil Drainage

Moist, well-drained soil

Soil pH

5.0-8.0, no single ideal pH; tolerates a broad range from acidic to alkaline.

Bloom Color

White to greenish-white

Bloom Time

Late spring to early summer.

Foliage Color

Dark green (glossy on the upper surface)

Fall Foliage Color

Yellow to orange to bright red

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Slow growth

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Grafting, Root suckers

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees and birds