Persimmons
Persimmons are a very easy tree to grow. They have very few insect pests and can with stand a wide range of soil types and moisture ranges. They are, however, favorites of many animals such as opossums. Persimmons have an interesting greenish flower. They have glossy leaves which turn bright red in the fall months and once the leaves have fallen the bright orange fruit is left hanging. Delayed leafing can be perceived as a problem but is not. Some trees fail to leaf out the first season due to heat requirements. The tree can be pruned to establish desired form but little maintenance is needed. Fruits need to freeze on the tree several times to remove their astringency.There are two types of persimmons. Astringent (Hachiya) and
non-astringent (Fuyu). Please see the first reference for a description of
each.
Environmental Characteristics: Full Sun
Hardiness zone- 4-9
Life Expectancy 50-75 years
Size: Full size-35' but can be maintained at 15'
First Fruit: 2-3 years
Yields: Mature tree-Abundant
Reference(s):
