Diospyros virginiana aka Persimmon

American persimmon, Diospyros virginiana, is a deciduous tree in the ebony family, Ebenaceae. It grows wild across the central and eastern United States. Its range runs from Connecticut and New England south to Florida. It reaches west as far as Kansas and Texas. In the wild it turns up in dry open woods, glades, prairies, old fields and roadsides. Other common names include common persimmon, possumwood and simmon.

In gardens the tree usually grows 35 to 60 feet (11 to 18 m) tall and 20 to 35 feet (6 to 11 m) wide. Some sources record wild trees up to 80 feet (24 m). On poor sites it may stay a shrubby 15 feet (4.5 m). Young trees are pyramidal and later open into an oval or rounded crown. The bark is the easiest way to spot it in winter. It is thick and dark grey and breaks into square blocks, often likened to alligator hide. The leaves are simple, alternate and oval, 2 to 6 inches (5 to 15 cm) long. They are glossy dark green above and paler below. In autumn they turn yellow, orange, red or reddish purple. Twigs are slender and zigzag, with small dark buds and no terminal bud.

Most trees are either male or female, so you need both sexes for fruit. Small, fragrant, white to greenish-yellow flowers open from May to June. Male flowers grow in small clusters, while female flowers are solitary and bell-shaped. Bees visit the flowers for nectar and pollen. Female trees bear round orange berries 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) across in autumn. The fruit is harsh and astringent until fully soft, and frost often improves it. Seedlings may take 4 to 9 years to fruit, and grafted trees about 3.

Persimmon likes moist, well-drained, sandy soil in full sun or part shade. It also copes with clay, alkaline soil, drought, wind, salt spray and city conditions. It is hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9. A deep taproot makes it hard to move, so plant young container or balled trees. It suits naturalised areas, parks, rain gardens and edible landscapes. The fruit feeds birds, deer, foxes, raccoons and bears. The leaves feed caterpillars of the luna moth and hickory horndevil. The hard, almost black heartwood has been used for golf club heads and billiard cues. Named cultivars such as 'Meader' and 'Prok' exist for fruit.

Leaf spot is the main problem. It causes black spots and early leaf drop, but it does not kill the tree. A vascular wilt can seriously harm established trees. Caterpillars, the persimmon psyllid and leaf beetles sometimes feed on it. Fallen fruit is slippery and messy, so keep trees away from paths and patios. Mature trees send up root suckers that can spread.

The ripe fruit is sweet and you can eat it raw, cooked or dried. People use it in pies, breads, jellies, syrups and ice cream. The leaves can make tea. No known hazards are recorded. Native Americans used the fruit and inner bark as food and medicine.