american persimmon (diospyros virginiana)

american persimmon is one of the great native fruit trees of north america — hardy, adaptable, and beautiful. our seedlings come from parent trees in burlington, vermont, proven to handle zone 5b winters and still set reliable crops. while not selected cultivars, these seedlings carry the rugged genetics of trees that thrive at the northern edge of persimmon’s range.

in spring, persimmon produces small, fragrant, bell-shaped flowers, with male and female blossoms usually on separate trees. by late summer into fall, the fruit ripens into glowing orange globes — astringent when green, but once softened by frost they become rich, sweet, and custard-like, one of the most delicious native fruits.

ornamentally, persimmon is handsome in every season: glossy green leaves that turn golden yellow in fall, blocky gray bark that develops into a striking, alligator-skin pattern with age, and upright form that works equally well as a specimen tree or in groves.

ecologically, persimmon is a wildlife magnet. deer, raccoons, foxes, opossums, turkeys, and songbirds all relish the fruit, often cleaning the ground beneath trees as quickly as it falls. the dense wood is legendary for its toughness and was once used for golf club heads and tool handles.

planting notes

height: 30–60 ft (smaller at northern edge of range)

spread: 20–35 ft

soil: tolerant of a wide range; prefers well-drained loam but grows in sandy or rocky sites

light: full sun to part shade

fall color: golden yellow

growth: moderate; seedlings variable, with male and female trees

wildlife: fruit beloved by deer, turkeys, raccoons, and many others

note: as seedlings, sex is not determined until maturity. for fruit production, plant several to increase chances of both male and female trees.