Winter Plum Diospyros virginiana
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- dy-OS-pe-res ver-jin-ee-AY-nah
- Description
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American Persimmon, is a deciduous tree in the ebony family, 30 to 70 feet high with a 1 to 2 foot diameter erect trunk with alligator bark, native to central and eastern USA and found throughout North Carolina, except in the higher mountains. It is slow-growing and thicket forming and can be a nuisance in fields. It can take 10 to 15 years before the tree bears fruit. The trees are usually dioecious (separate male and female and both are needed for fruiting to occur). Flowering is in spring to early summer with fruit ripening in the fall. A string of cool days is usually needed for maturation. The 1 to 2 inch fruits are orange and very sweet when ripe. They are a source of food for many types of birds and mammals.
Moist, well-drained sandy soils provide the best conditions for growth but the tree will tolerate hot, dry, poor soils and clay, including urban conditions. Under poor conditions, it will often maintain a 15 foot shrub-like appearance, but in rich, moist soil it can grow to its maximum height. It is a pioneer species and invades relatively open areas where there is less competition. In the wild, it is often found on most soil types from sands to shales and mud bottom lands. It blooms and fruits best in full sun to partial shade. A deep taproot makes it difficult to transplant.
Cultivars are available that may make a better tree for the home garden. It can also be grown as an ornamental, fruit tree, or in naturalized areas for wildlife.
Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems:
No known insect or disease problems. Leaf spot may occur.
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:
- Woodland Backyard Garden Walk
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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'C-100'
- Var. mosieri
Florida variety - Var. platycarpa
Oklahoma variety - Var. pubescens
Fuzzy fruits
Nice red fall color 'Killen'
Medium-sized fruit ‘Meader’
Apricot-sized fruit and deep orange 'Morris Burton'
Considered one of the best native persimmons 'Prok'
Best tasting American persimmons - Var. mosieri
- 'C-100', 'Killen', ‘Meader’, 'Morris Burton', 'Prok', Var. mosieri, Var. platycarpa, Var. pubescens
- Tags:























- Cultivars / Varieties:
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'C-100'
- Var. mosieri
Florida variety - Var. platycarpa
Oklahoma variety - Var. pubescens
Fuzzy fruits
Nice red fall color 'Killen'
Medium-sized fruit ‘Meader’
Apricot-sized fruit and deep orange 'Morris Burton'
Considered one of the best native persimmons 'Prok'
Best tasting American persimmons - Var. mosieri
- 'C-100', 'Killen', ‘Meader’, 'Morris Burton', 'Prok', Var. mosieri, Var. platycarpa, Var. pubescens
- Tags:
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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
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Grafting
- Root Cutting
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central and eastern North America
- Distribution:
- New England to Florida, west to Texas and Kansas.
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- A larval host plant of the Luna moth and Hickory Horndevil (Citheronia regalis) larvae which have one brood and appear from May to mid-September. Adult Hickory Horndevil moths do not feed. 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.
- 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.
- Edibility:
- The fruit is astringent when green, but sweet when soft and ripe and may be eaten raw. Used in syrups, jellies, ice cream and pies.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 30 ft. 0 in. - 80 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 20 ft. 0 in. - 35 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Native Plant
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Columnar
- Oval
- Pyramidal
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- 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
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 24-60 feet
- more than 60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5b, 5a, 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a, 8a, 8b, 9b, 9a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- Edible, yellowish to orange fruit on female trees in fall. Globular berry, 1 to 1 ½ inch long, yellowish/peach/pale orange with a waxy bloom. Astringent unless overripe. Displays from September to December.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Orange
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- fused petals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Persimmons are usually dioecious (separate male and female trees), but some trees have perfect flowers. Fragrant, small, white to greenish-yellow flowers bloom in late spring, with the tubular male flowers appearing in 2 to 3 flower clusters and the female flower appearing solitary and bell or urn-shaped with 4 recurved petals. Blooms from May to June.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Purple/Lavender
- 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. The fall color is yellow to reddish-purple. Leaves have a broad mid-rib with dark veins on the underside.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- 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 (cobbled) that look like an alligator.
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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 Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- 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.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Recreational Play Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Children's Garden
- Edible Garden
- Native Garden
- Nighttime Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Design Feature:
- Flowering Tree
- Specimen
- Street Tree
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Dry Soil
- Fire
- Poor Soil
- Wind