NAME:
COMMON – American Persimmon
BOTANICAL – Diospyros virginiana
FAMILY – Ebenaceae

DERIVATION:
Native to the central and eastern United States 

GROWTH CHARACTERISTICS:
Can reach 30 to 80 feet high and 20 to 35 feet wide.

LOCATION:
Grows best in moist, well-drained, sandy soils in full sun to partial shade. It will tolerate hot, dry conditions, poor soils, urban conditions, and wind. Under poor conditions, the tree may maintain a 15-foot shrub-like appearance.

ATTRIBUTES, VALUE, UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS:
The name persimmon comes from ‘putchamin,’ a phonetic rendering of the name used by the Algonquin tribe of the American Indians. The species epithet is Latin and means “Virginian.”  Persimmons are dioecious, meaning there are separate male and female trees, and you need both to get fruit. The persimmon flowers in spring to early summer and produces fruits in the fall. The fruits are very sweet when ripe and are a food source for many birds and mammals. Fall leaf color ranges from yellow to orange to bright red. It can be grown as an ornamental or fruit tree in the home landscape, or in naturalized areas for wildlife.

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