Persimmon

Profile

Family

Ebenaceae

Habit

Tree

Height

17.5 m

Spread

8 m

Growth

slow

Lifespan

300 years

First yield

after 5 years

Hardiness

zone 5–10

Shade tolerance

partial shade

Soil

Sand, Silt, Loam

Soil moisture

dry – moist

pH

5.5 – 8

Synonyms

Amerikanische Kaki

Flowering & harvest

Times apply to the northern hemisphere in a temperate climate and shift with altitude and cultivar.

Uses

Edible: Fruit can be consumed raw, cooked, or dried and incorporated into various baked goods. It is typically plum-sized with a rich flavor when fully ripe, though it can be very tart and astringent before reaching full ripeness. In cooler summers, the fruit may not ripen well, but a frost can enhance its aroma. Harvesting after a frost in autumn is ideal. Despite a warm summer in 1996, some fruit on sun-exposed trees remained underripe. The fruit, measuring up to 4.5 cm in diameter, can also be dried for culinary use. The pulp can be used to make molasses, while the seeds yield an oil resembling peanut oil. Dried leaves can be brewed into a tea rich in vitamin C, with a pleasant sassafras-like flavor. Roasted seeds are sometimes used as a coffee alternative.

Medicinal: The leaves have cardiotonic, stimulating, and tonic properties. They are often used to treat heart conditions.

Other uses: Can be used as a base for D. kaki. The wood is strong, hard, heavy, fine-grained, elastic, and wear-resistant. It is used for making wooden goods, turnings, and especially golf club handles.

Growing

Requires good, deep loamy soil in sunny or lightly shaded areas for optimal growth. When cultivated for its fruit, it thrives in warm, sunny, and sheltered locations, preferring to avoid very acidic or excessively moist soils. While young plants are somewhat delicate, mature dormant trees can withstand temperatures as low as -35°C. Spring growth, especially in young plants, is vulnerable to frost, making it advisable to plant them in areas shielded from morning sunlight. Fruiting can commence within a few years, as evidenced by a 1.5-meter-tall plant at Kew Botanic Gardens in autumn 1996, bearing a significant yield. This species is sometimes grown for its edible fruit, with various named cultivars available. 'Dooley' and 'Geneva Red' are successful near the northern boundaries of persimmon cultivation, producing medium to large fruits. 'Meader' is suitable for cooler climates and is self-pollinating. Due to their long taproot, these plants are challenging to transplant, emphasizing the importance of planting them in their permanent positions promptly and providing winter protection during the initial years. The subspecies D. virginiana platycarpa, known for its sweet, juicy flesh, grows naturally from Missouri to Arkansas.

Propagation

Samen – am besten im Frühbeetkasten aussäen, sobald sie reif sind. Gelagerte Samen benötigen eine Kältebehandlung und sollten so früh wie möglich im Jahr ausgesät werden. Sie keimen in der Regel innerhalb von 1–6 Monaten bei 15 °C. Sobald die jungen Sämlinge groß genug sind, in ausreichend tiefe Töpfe umpflanzen und im Frühsommer auspflanzen. Die Pflanzen benötigen in den ersten ein bis zwei Wintern im Freien einen gewissen Schutz vor Frost. Stecklinge von halbverholzten Trieben, Juli/August im Frühbeetkasten. Absenker im Frühjahr.

Notable

Special features: heat-loving, young leaf shoots are susceptible to frost; unripe fruit is very astringent; store with apples (ethylene-emitting) until ripe; there are self-fertile varieties (e.g., Meader); D. kaki and D. lotus are similar, for which D. viriginiana can serve as a rootstock (perhaps also for D. nigra?)

Origin & habitat

Dry woodlands, former fields, and open areas on sandy soils that are well-drained. Can be located on various soil types ranging from sand to shale and mudflats.

Woodlands and scrub, typically found on limestone, occasionally forming pure stands in sheltered areas on chalk in the southeast and limestone in the northwest. A resilient plant, it thrives in diverse habitats.

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