Morris Burton Common Persimmon Diospyros virginiana 'Morris Burton'
- Phonetic Spelling
- dee-oh-SPR-os vir-jin-ee-AY-uh
- Description
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Morris Burton is a native, small to medium-sized tree which is partially self-fertile as it produces some male flowers. Best fruiting occurs with a male and female tree being planted together. The orange-red fruits have excellent flavor and are considered one of the best native persimmons. It can be slow to fruit.
This tree prefers full sun and moist, well-drained soil but is adaptable to many varieties of soil including poor, dry ones.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Edibles, Bulbs, and Houseplants" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Diospyros
- Species:
- virginiana
- Family:
- Ebenaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts birds to it's fruit
- Edibility:
- Fruits can be dried, eaten raw or used in making jams, pies, and ice cream.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 30 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Oval
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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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
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 24-60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6b, 6a, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9b, 9a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Description:
- The small to medium-sized orange-red fruit has a sweet flesh and tender skin. It is rated the best tasty common persimmon cultivar. Slow to bear fruits.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- The flower is cream in color and not showy.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Dark green leaves are up to 5" long and 2" wide and have great red foliage in fall.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Black
- Dark Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Ridges
- Bark Description:
- Thick, gray to black blocky bark.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Edible Garden
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Poor Soil
- Wind
