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Japanese Persimmon

Scientific Name: Diospyros kaki

Also Known As

Oriental Persimmon

Plant type

tree, fruit / vegetable

size

H: 20'-30'
W: 20'-30'

planting zones

7a-10b

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Japanese Persimmon plant details

Japanese Persimmon is a slow-growing broadleaf deciduous fruit / vegetable or tree with green foliage. In summer cream and pink flowers emerge followed by orange fruit. Features glossy texture. Attracts birds. Grows well with sun and regular - low water. Drought tolerant once established. Does well in acidic, rich and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something heat tolerant.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Japanese Persimmon

Plant type: fruit / vegetable or tree
Plant family: ebenaceae
Foliage: deciduous green
Mature size: 20 FT - 30 FT - wide, 20 FT - 30 FT - tall
Flowers: cream and pink blooms in summer
Uses: fall color

GROWING CONDITIONS for Japanese Persimmon

USDA Zones: 7a - 10b
Sun exposure: sun
Watering frequency: regular - low
Resistant to: heat
Soil needs: acidic, rich and well-drained

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

he tree, reaching 15 to 60 ft (4.5-18 m) is long-lived and typically round-topped, fairly open, erect or semi-erect, sometimes crooked or willowy; seldom with a spread of more than 15 to 20 ft (4.5-6 m). The leaves are deciduous, alternate, with brown-hairy petioles 3/4 in (2 cm) long; are ovate-elliptic, oblong-ovate, or obovate, 3 to 10 in (7.5-25 cm) long, 2 to 4 in (5-10 cm) wide, leathery, glossy on the upper surface, brown-silky beneath; bluish-green, turning in the fall to rich yellow, orange or red. Male and female flowers are usually borne on separate trees; sometimes perfect or female flowers are found on male trees, and occasionally male flowers on female trees. Male flowers, in groups of 3 in the leaf axils, have 4-parted calyx and corolla and 24 stamens in 2 rows. Female flowers, solitary, have a large leaflike calyx, a 4-parted, pale-yellow corolla, 8 undeveloped stamens and oblate or rounded ovary bearing the style and stigma. Perfect flowers are intermediate between the two. The fruit, capped by the persistent calyx, may be round, conical, oblate, or nearly square, has thin, smooth, glossy, yellow, orange, red or brownish-red skin, yellow, orange, or dark-brown, juicy, gelatinous flesh, seedless or containing 4 to 8 flat, oblong, brown seeds 3/4 in (2 cm) long. Generally, the flesh is bitter and astringent until fully ripe, when it becomes soft, sweet and pleasant, but dark-fleshed types may be non-astringent, crisp, sweet and edible even before full ripening. Climate The Japanese persimmon needs a subtropical to mild-temperate climate. It will not fruit in tropical lowlands. In Brazil, the tree is considered suitable for all zones favorable to Citrus, but those zones with the coldest winters induce the highest yields. The atmosphere may range from semi-arid to one of high humidity. Trees in the Middle Atlantic States have been known to have withstood temperatures as low as 20º F (-6.67º C) and to have remained in excellent condition and fruitful after 40 years. Soil The tree is not particular as to soil, and does well on any moderately fertile land with deep friable subsoil. In Florida, a sandy loam with clay subsoil promotes good growth. While the young tree needs plentiful watering, good drainage is essential.

By: Florida Hill Nursery

This is the non astringent species of persimmon usually found in the market. Depending on the variety, the large fruit is either pointed or flattened in shape . Glossy green leaves of summer often have striking fall foliage colors. Even after leaf fall, the shiny orange fruit will hang on the bare branches until December, a delightful landscape subject. If you like to dry fruit, this persimmon dries incredibly sweet; any residual astringency simply wafts away.

By: Greer Gardens Inc.

The persimmon tree is small, to 20' tall or so and often smaller x 10-15' wide, and deciduous with dark green leaves that emerge bronze then turn orange and red in autumn. Small, white summer flowers produce the delicious persimmon fruits that ripen in the fall and remain decorative even after the leaves have dropped. Full sun and well-drained soil is best with little summer water once established. Frost hardy to 0 °F, USDA zone 7.

Japanese Persimmon plant details

CHARACTERISTICS OF Japanese Persimmon

GROWING CONDITIONS for Japanese Persimmon

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

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