Diospyros virginiana

Common Name
Common persimmon
American persimmon
Scientific Name
Diospyros virginiana
Ground Cover
No
Evergreen
No
Plant Form
Large Trees
Max Height (ft)
80.0
Hardiness Zone
5
6
7
8
9
Region
Coastal
Piedmont
Mountain
Additional Info

Habitat: Weedy tree in old fields, fencerows, and roadsides; also scattered in a range of natural habitats, including swamp forests, depression ponds, dune woodlands and scrub, rocky woodlands, and the understory of mesic to dry upland forests. Common in the coastal Plain and piedmont; infrequent\ and confined to low elevations in the mountains.

Wildlife Value: A larval host plant of the Luna moth and Hickory Horndevil (Citheronia regalis) larvae. The fruit of the persimmon is a food source for birds, small mammals, white-tailed deer, foxes, raccoons, and black bears. Deer browse the leaves and twigs.

Notes: With spectacular autumn foliage and fruit that extends the harvest late into the fall, they are an excellent addition to an edible landscape. Edible when ripe, the sweet fruit of Persimmon somewhat recalls the flavor of dates. Fruit can stay on the tree after the leaves have fallen unaffected by freezing temperatures, giving an attractive addition to a winter garden. Persimmons are dioecious, meaning there are separate male and female trees, and you need both in order to get fruit. 

Light Requirements
Full sun
Partial sun
Shade
Moisture Requirements
Wet
Moist
Dry
Soil Texture
Clay
Loamy
Sandy
Grassland Species
Yes
Riparian Buffer Species?
Yes
Riparian Buffer Zones
SF
WF
RT
Bloom Time
Spring
Early Summer
Deer Resitant
No
Low Maintenance
No
Climate-smart plant
Yes
Good Choice for Public Spaces
Yes
Seed or Fruit eaten by wildlife?
Yes
Supports Pollinators
Yes
Pollinators
Bees
Butterfiles