Pretty Persimmons! These exotic-looking fruits grow closer to home than you might think. Their unmistakable fall color stands out against autumn leaves and can be spotted from afar. The American Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) is native across most of the East Coast and as far west as Iowa, providing a boon to wildlife wherever they grow.
Persimmon trees are ornamental, fruit-bearing, and easy to grow! While you may find Persimmons in grocery stores each fall, many people don't know quite what to do with them.
- Pruning Your Persimmon Tree
- Types of Persimmon, Pollination & Harvest
- Basic Persimmon Tree Care
- The Ornamental Appeal of Persimmon Trees!
- FAQ About Persimmon Trees
All About Persimmons
For centuries, Indigenous Americans relied on Persimmons as a staple food, drying them for pemmican and using them as dependable winter nutrition. Today, both American and Asian Persimmons are coming back into vogue for their beauty and flavor.
Persimmons aren't just about the fruit - they're also stunning landscape trees. Their glossy foliage, brilliant fall color, and tropical-looking blossoms make them garden standouts. Flowers are usually greenish-yellow to greenish-white, sometimes pinkish in clusters, and often fragrant - a favorite of pollinators.
These trees are disease-resistant and bloom late in spring, helping them avoid frost damage. They can grow as a multi-trunked specimen or a single-stemmed tree, reaching about 25 feet tall and wide.
Cold-hardy American Persimmons thrive across much of the US, while Asian Persimmons shine in warmer growing zones 6-10. The colorful fruit ripens from green to orange, red, or even soft purple. The ripe fruit has a sweet, nutty flavor and a custard-like texture. Persimmons have been made into puddings and pies for centuries, but you can also:
- Enjoy them fresh, right off the tree
- Add them to salads, cereal, or smoothies
- Bake with them like you would apples
- Make preserves or freeze for later
- Even use the leaves for tea
Pruning Your Persimmon Tree
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Should a Persimmon tree be pruned?
Yes! While the tree is young, shape it with a strong framework of main branches. Remove crossing branches, damaged wood, and any stems growing inward so that sunlight and airflow reach the interior.
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When to prune?
The best time is in late winter or very early spring, while the tree is still dormant. Use sharp shears and cut cleanly back to the trunk.
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Pruning for size control
For smaller yards, prune in summer. Thin suckers, remove water sprouts, and keep the canopy open for light and air circulation.
Step-by-Step: How to Prune a Persimmon Tree
- Prep & plan: Sanitize tools, study the tree's structure, and aim for 3-4 well-spaced scaffold branches.
- Remove the 3 D's: Cut out dead, diseased, and damaged wood first, back to healthy tissue.
- Establish structure: Keep a central or modified central leader; select scaffolds 18-36" above the ground, spaced around the trunk.
- Thin, don't top: Favor thinning cuts over heading; take out crossing, rubbing, and inward-growing shoots.
- Set good angles: Prefer scaffold branches at 45-60°; shorten overly long scaffolds to a lateral pointing outward.
- Clear the interior: Open the canopy so dappled light reaches the center; remove weak, twiggy growth.
- Control height: Reduce overall size gradually. Remove no more than ~20-30% of live canopy in a single year.
- Suckers & watersprouts: Remove root suckers at the base and vigorous vertical watersprouts along branches.
- Make clean cuts: Cut just outside the branch collar; don't leave stubs and avoid flush cuts.
- Aftercare: Water if dry, refresh mulch (keep it off the trunk), and clean up debris; sanitize tools between trees.
Types of Persimmon, Pollination & Harvest
Persimmons are classified into two main types: astringent and non-astringent.
- Non-astringent - Crisp like an apple when ripe, such as Fuyu.
- Astringent - Must ripen to a soft, custardy stage before eating, like the Hachiya.
American Persimmons can be both. Harvest early for astringency, or let the fruit ripen fully on the tree for sweetness.
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Persimmon Pollination Tips:
American Persimmons are usually dioecious (male and female trees separate). Plant at least two for cross-pollination and larger harvests. Asian Persimmons are generally self-fertile but still yield better with a partner tree nearby.
Basic Persimmon Tree Care
Persimmons are low-maintenance trees when given the right conditions:
- Full sun - At least 6 hours daily
- Moisture - Regular watering for young trees
- Seasonal watering - Extra water during drought or hot spells for bigger fruit
- Soil - Well-drained, nutrient-rich soil with 3-4 inches of arborist mulch
Once established, Persimmons are fairly drought-tolerant, but a little extra care during dry spells pays off in a juicier harvest.
The Ornamental Appeal of Persimmon Trees!
With their beauty and bounty, Persimmons truly earn the name "fruit of the gods"! Shop Persimmon trees at Nature Hills and bring one home for your family.
Happy Planting!
