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Plants that fill a similar niche:
Ulmus alata Ulmus alata
Hamamelis virginiana Hamamelis virginiana
Quercus nigra Quercus nigra

C-100 Common Persimmon Diospyros virginiana 'C-100'

Other Common Name(s):

Previously known as:

  • Diospyros mosieri
  • Diospyros virginiana var. mosieri
  • Diospyros virginiana var. platycarpa
  • Diospyros virginiana var. pubescens
  • Diospyros virginiana var. virginiana
Phonetic Spelling
dee-oh-SPR-os vir-jin-ee-AY-uh
Description

Eastern Persimmon is a native tree that is cold hardy, slow-growing with a long taproot and long-lived. It tolerates a wide range of soil types and pHs preferring moist well-drained soils in full to part sun.

It is valued for its fruit and attraction to wildlife. Two trees are necessary for the production of fruit. The fruit is not edible until exposed to frost or consistent low temperatures. 10-year-old trees may produce fruit but optimum fruit-bearing age is 25-50 years.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Good disease and insect resistance. May get leaf spot.

 

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.

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Tags:
#hardy#deciduous#small tree#full sun tolerant#wildlife plants#slow growing#native tree#nectar plant#winter interest#fruit tree#small mammals#disease resistant#food source wildlife#cpp#wind tolerant#pest resistant#native fruit tree#long lifespan#edible fruits#pollinator plant#food source winter#fall color yellow#bird friendly#fall color red#partial shade tolerant
 
Diospyros virginiana 'C-100'
Close up of fruit and cross section of fruit bruce_crossing CC-BY-SA 2.0
Bark
Bark Marija Gajić CC BY-SA 4.0
Male flowers
Male flowers USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab CC0 1.0
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#hardy#deciduous#small tree#full sun tolerant#wildlife plants#slow growing#native tree#nectar plant#winter interest#fruit tree#small mammals#disease resistant#food source wildlife#cpp#wind tolerant#pest resistant#native fruit tree#long lifespan#edible fruits#pollinator plant#food source winter#fall color yellow#bird friendly#fall color red#partial shade tolerant
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Diospyros
    Species:
    virginiana
    Family:
    Ebenaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    American Indians made persimmon bread and stored the dried fruit like prunes.
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Root Cutting
    Seed
    Wildlife Value:
    Bees pollinate the flowers. The fruit is eaten by squirrel, fox, skunk, deer, bear, coyote, raccoon, opossum, and various birds, including quail, wild turkey, cedar waxwing, and catbird.
    Play Value:
    Wildlife Food Source
    Edibility:
    Persimmons are consumed fresh and are used to make puddings, cakes, and beverages.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 30 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Edible
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Oval
    Rounded
    Growth Rate:
    Slow
    Maintenance:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    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:
    4a, 4b, 5b, 5a, 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a, 8a, 8b, 9b, 9a
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Orange
    Red/Burgundy
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Winter
    Fruit Type:
    Berry
    Fruit Length:
    1-3 inches
    Fruit Width:
    1-3 inches
    Fruit Description:
    The fruit is 1-2 inch wide, greenish to yellowish with a highly astringent pulp before ripening. Then turns yellowish-orange to reddish-orange and sweet in the fall. Each fruit with 1-8 flat seeds. Needs frost or a succession of cold days to ripen.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Cream/Tan
    Gold/Yellow
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Insignificant
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Shape:
    Urn
    Flower Description:
    The tree is dioecious which male and female flower blooms on different trees. The flower is cream to yellow in color, fragrant and not showy appearing in spring. Male flowers are in clusters and females appear singly.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Glossy
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Red/Burgundy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Leaves are simple, alternate, ovate to elliptic or oblong with smooth edges or some serration. They are 2-6 inches long and 3/4-2 inches wide with an acuminate apex and rounded base. The lower surface usually lighter-colored and may have hairs, especially on young leaves. Stems are pubescent. The fall color is yellow or red.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Black
    Dark Gray
    Bark Description:
    The bark is thick and dark-gray to almost black and broken into scaly, squarish blocks on mature trees.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Naturalized Area
    Slope/Bank
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Edible Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Winter Garden
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Black Walnut
    Diseases
    Drought
    Insect Pests
    Pollution
    Poor Soil
    Urban Conditions
    Wind