Plant DetailShow Menu

Diospyros virginiana 'Prok'

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
dee-oh-SPR-os vir-jin-ee-AY-uh
Description

'Prok' is a heavy bearing persimmon cultivar in the Ebenaceae family whose parent plant is native to central and eastern United States and has been adaptable to the urban environment. It is beautiful, delicious and easy to grow.  This cultivar is recommended for the northern edge of the persimmon growing region as it is cold hardy and early ripening (August - October). It is self-fertile and female trees will produce seedless fruit without a male pollinator. 'Prok' is rated as one of the best tasting American persimmons. This variety bears huge crops of sweet, orange, juicy fruit. 

'Prok' has a nice form and is suitable for landscape use, has a nice fall color, and is a wildlife attractant. It is a cold-hardy tree easily grown in full sun with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0 in moist to well-drained soil.  It is also adaptable to many varieties of soil, including poor, dry ones.  It is drought tolerant once established. 

It has superior ornamental qualities. Dark green foliage is attractive throughout the growing season before turning excellent shades of red in the fall. The orange fruits, which begin to ripen late summer, early fall are larger than most American persimmons at 2 1/2" - 3".   Fruits are commonly used in syrups, jellies, ice creams or pies. Persimmon leaves can be used to make teas. The wood is extremely hard and has been used to make golf club heads, billiard cues and shoe lasts.  This cultivar will normally grow 35 - 60' in height.  With pruning, trees can be maintained at 15-20'.

It can be grown as an ornamental or fruit tree in the home landscape, or in naturalized areas for wildlife. Thus, it can be placed in many types of gardens: a butterfly, children's, native, nighttime, pollinator, or rain garden.  With spectacular autumn foliage and fruit that extends the harvest late into the fall, they are an excellent addition to an edible landscape.  They do produce root suckers.  Remove promptly unless a naturalized effect is wanted.

Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: Leaf spot may occur.  Fruit drop can be messy.

VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Edibles, Bulbs, and Houseplants" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.   

More information on Diospyros virginiana.

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#small tree#rain garden#fragrant flowers#low maintenance#fall interest#fruit tree#showy fruits#small mammals#messy#deer browsing plant#deer resistant#nighttime garden#children's garden#edible fruits#pollinator plant#edible garden#orange fruits#messy fruits#food source soft mast fruit#fall color red#bee friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#small tree#rain garden#fragrant flowers#low maintenance#fall interest#fruit tree#showy fruits#small mammals#messy#deer browsing plant#deer resistant#nighttime garden#children's garden#edible fruits#pollinator plant#edible garden#orange fruits#messy fruits#food source soft mast fruit#fall color red#bee friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Diospyros
    Species:
    virginiana
    Family:
    Ebenaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    The inner bark and unripe fruit has been used in the treatment of fevers, diarrhea, and hemorrhage, indelible ink made from fruit, flowers used for honey. The fruit was used for food and medicinal purposes by Native Americans. The heartwood is nearly black, extremely hard and is used to make golf club heads, billiard cues and shoe lasts.
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Woody
    Fire Risk Rating:
    low flammability
    Wildlife Value:
    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 though the plant tolerates this well.
    Play Value:
    Edible fruit
    Fragrance
    Wildlife Food Source
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    Resistant to fire in landscape. This tree is moderately deer resistant. Drought tolerant once established. Wind resistant.
    Edibility:
    The fruit is used in syrups, jellies, ice creams or pies. They can be eaten raw or dried. Persimmon leaves can be used to make teas.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 35 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 35 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Edible
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Open
    Rounded
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    24-60 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Orange
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Berry
    Fruit Length:
    1-3 inches
    Fruit Width:
    1-3 inches
    Fruit Description:
    2.5-3-inch orange fruits ripen August through fall. Great sweet flavor.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Insignificant
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Shape:
    Bell
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    fused petals
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    The flower is greenish yellow in color and not showy.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Red/Burgundy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Oblong
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Leaves are broadly oblong and pointed with smooth edges or some serration. They are 2 to 6 inches long and 2 to 3 inches wide with an acuminate apex and rounded base. The lower surface is usually lighter-colored and may have hairs, especially on young leaves. Leaves have a broad mid-rib with dark veins on the underside. Great red foliage in fall.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Black
    Dark Gray
    Surface/Attachment:
    Furrowed
    Bark Plate Shape:
    Square
    Bark Description:
    It is one of the easiest trees to identify in winter because of its distinctive thick, dark grey bark that is divided by furrows into square blocks resembling a checkerboard, sometimes referred to as "alligator bark."
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Gray/Silver
    Red/Burgundy
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Bud Scales:
    Enclosed in 2 scales
    Stem Form:
    Zig Zags
    Stem Description:
    Stems are pubescent. Buds are single, sessile, 2 overlapping scales, 1/4" long, dark reddish - almost black, no terminal bud. Branchlets slender, zigzag, at first light reddish-brown and pubescent. They vary in color from light brown to ashy gray.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Lawn
    Meadow
    Naturalized Area
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Children's Garden
    Edible Garden
    Nighttime Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Rain Garden
    Design Feature:
    Flowering Tree
    Small Tree
    Specimen
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Pollinators
    Small Mammals
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Problems:
    Messy