Botanical Name: Diospyros virginiana
Add
Common Name: Common Persimmon  
Plant photo of: Diospyros virginiana
Previous Photo     Next Photo

Water Saving Tip:

Replace turf with groundcovers, trees, and shrubs. If you have areas where no one uses the grass, patches that do not grow well, or a turf area too small to water without runoff, consider replacing the turf with water-efficient landscaping.

  • Anatomy

  • Culture

  • Design

Plant Type

Tree

 

Height Range

12-25', 25-40', 40-60'

 

Flower Color

Yellow

 

Flower Season

Spring

 

Leaf Color

Green

 

Bark Color

Grey

 

Fruit Color

Orange

 

Fruit Season

Fall

Sun

Full

 

Water

Medium

 

Growth Rate

Slow

 

Soil Type

Sandy, Clay, Loam, Rocky, Unparticular

 

Soil Condition

Average, Rich, Poor, Well-drained, Dry

 

Soil pH

Acid, Neutral, Basic

 

Adverse Factors

Invasive

Design Styles

Mediterranean, Ranch, Spanish

 

Accenting Features

Fall Color, Specimen

 

Seasonal Interest

Summer, Fall

 

Location Uses

Background, Shrub Border

 

Special Uses

Screen, Naturalizing

 

Attracts Wildlife

Birds

Information by: Stephanie Duer
Photographer: Sandra Chipley

  • Description

  • Notes

This American native is grown as a shrubby tree or, in time, large tree, growing from 15 to 50 feet tall and 20 to 35 feetwide. It has an upright and spreading habit with somewhat pendulous branches. Leaves are large, oval, and glossy green, turning to shades of yellow and orange in the fall. Bell-shaped yellow flowers appear in mid spring, but are mostly hidden by the foliage. Large, edible, dark orange fruit ripens in the fall, and tastes best after a frost.
Grow in full sun in well drained, sandy-loam to clay-loam soils. Though fruiting is better with consistent moisture, it is somewhat drought tolerant. Its suckering habit has a tendency to form thickets. Hardy to USDA Zone 4. A good choice for an edible, informal landscape.