The best time to plant these slow-growing trees is during their dormancy in winter.
Two primary varieties of persimmon are grown in the United States:Diospyros kakiandD.
virginiana.The former, also known asJapanese persimmon, is commercially grown predominantly in California.
American persimmon is native to the East Coast and is more cold hardy than the Asian variety.
This tree can be grown from New York to Florida and as far east as Texas.
In the spring or early summer, yellow-green to white flowers emerge in fragrant bell shapes.
After flowering, the trees bearedible persimmon fruitsthat ripen in the fall.
Plant Attributes
Persimmon Tree Care
Persimmons are not fast-growing fruit trees.
They require full sun, and well-drained, loamy soil.
Otherwise, they are very easy-going and require little pruning.
Plant persimmon trees in an area that receives enough daily sunlight through autumn as the fruit ripens.
Soil
These trees grow relatively well in mostsoil types, even tolerating heavy clay or dry soils.
Persimmon trees grow best in loamy soil.
Water
Persimmon trees are relatively drought-tolerant.
After transplanting or when first establishing roots, persimmon trees are more sensitive to water intake.
These trees tolerate some humidity but require proper air circulation.
You may need to protect them from strong winds.
Fertilizer
Persimmons don’t require muchadditional fertilizerif starting with a healthy growing environment.
These cultivars break down into two categories: non-astringent and astringent.
All American persimmons are astringent.
Here are a few cultivars of both species to consider:
Pruning
Persimmon trees need little pruning.
To control their shape, cut back branches when the tree is dormant in late winter or early spring.
Corrective pruningremoving dead, broken, or diseased brancheswill also help build a solid foundation.
When pruning after the fruit-bearing season, cut the stems back one-third.
Propagating Persimmon Trees
The best way to duplicate a persimmon tree is through cuttings.
Harvestpersimmon seedsfrom fully ripe fruit or purchase from a garden center.
After harvesting seeds, soak them in water for three days and remove any remaining flesh.
This cold exposure, or stratification, helps overwinter the seeds.
Keep the well-draining soil moist and in a bright, warm room.
Dig a hole four times the span of the roots to ensure they have plenty of room to expand.
Opt for a container that can hold the plant but with room to spare for future growth.
While a seedling may fit in a 1-gallon pot, a larger plant may need a 25-gallon pot.
Ensure that the pot has adrainage hole.
Water when needed, but take special care not to overwater, which can lead to root rot.
Overwintering
Persimmon trees are cold-hardy and can tolerate temperatures of 0F.
Adding alayer of mulcharound the roots will help insulate the tree during the winter.
Composted wood chips, straw, or another slowly decomposing mulch is best around these trees.
Crown gall and leaf blight may occur.
Crown gall is a soil-borne disease that presents as rounded growths on the branches and roots.
To manage grown gall, prune away infected material and sanitize your tools afterwards.
Leaf blight is a fungal disease that appears as black spots on the tree’s foliage.
The disease begins near the bottom of the tree and spreads if left untreated.
Treat with a fungicide.
Thefragrant flowersshould appear in May through June.
you could encourage blooming by ensuring that these trees are planted in a spot that gets enough sunlight.
Depending on the persimmon variety, flowers can take up to five years to emerge.
It takes even longer for trees to bear fruit, often up to 10 years.
Persimmon trees may also struggle to bloom if they’re lacking in phosphorus.
Amend the soil with a bone meal mixture around the tree to handle this glitch.
Common Problems With Persimmon Trees
Persimmon trees are fairly low-maintenance.
While the damage is primarily superficial, it can also prevent future growth.
Keep this issue under control by applying horticultural oil in late winter or early spring.
Leaves Turning Yellow
When new persimmon leaves turn yellow, the culprit is oftensoil pHimbalance.
Check the surrounding growing area’s pH and adjust the tree’s soil to be slightly acidic to neutral.
Add sulfur and spray leaves with a water-based solution, depending on the soil key in.
You may also struggle to get the trees to produce fruit indoors.
Persimmons are unique fruits.
Agricultural Marketing Resource Center, Iowa State University.Persimmon.
Updated April, 2024.
University of Florida.Alleviating Astringency in Persimmon Fruit for Enhanced Palatability and Consumer Acceptability.
North Carolina State Extension.Diospyros virginiana.
North Carolina State Extension.Diospyros virginiana ‘Morris Burton’.
