A beautiful native tree, often developing a symmetrical, rounded crown. Can become quite large, but grows rather slowly. Of interest particularly for its edible fruit, which can range from about 1" to 3" in diameter. Unripe fruits are astringent and inedible, but they become very sweet and pleasantly flavored when fully ripe in fall. The ripe fruits are typically orange, sometimes with red overtones. A tree loaded with ripe fruit is a delight to the eye as well as to the palate. Leaves often develop attractive yellow fall colors. Late-adhering persimmons remain on the tree and become especially conspicuous after the leaves drop, When fully ripe the fruit is little affected by freezing, and can persist on the tree, in edible condition, for weeks. We sometimes do not pick the last fruit of some trees until after Christmas.
American persimmons are capable of really making a significant contribution to the diet. The Oriental persimmon is considered the world's most popular fruit, in terms of the quantity of fruit consumed. American persimmon certainly appears to have the potential to be much more widely grown and enjoyed than it currently is. Persimmons are delicious whether eaten fresh, dried, or frozen. Entire cookbooks featuring pies, cakes, bread, puddings, ice cream, and other delicacies have been devoted to this fruit. American persimmon's flavor, productivity, ornamental value, hardiness, versatility, and minimal need for care make it worthy of consideration for inclusion in any sunny garden.
Persimmon trees typically begin bearing at a young age, sometimes the year after grafting. They tend to bear reasonably good crops every year, and often bear very heavy crops. The tree is not subject to any serious pests or diseases in our planting. Pruning and training young persimmon trees carefully helps them to develop a mechanically strong form which will allow them to carry the heavy crops of fruit they are likely to bear. For growing American persimmons in the northernmost portion of its range, (such as here in Massachusetts), it is important to select cultivars which will ripen properly in a relatively short growing season. In short-season areas such as this, it is advisable to situate the tree in as warm and sunny a location as possible. An elevated location, which effectively gives the tree a longer freeze-free growing season and protects the tree from late spring and earl fall freezes, is desirable also. It is sometimes believed that freezing helps persimmons to ripen. In fact, persimmons ripen best at warm temperatures and will ripen very well without being subjected to freezing temperatures. Exposure of fruit which is not fully ripe to freezing temperatures can ruin it and prevent it from ripening. Thinning the fruit to 2-1/2 to 4" apart is said to promote early ripening. Persimmon fruit is also said to ripen earlier if the trees are intercropped with black walnut trees. Some American persimmons can be picked when mature but still hard and unripe and will ripen well off the tree. Except in the case of cultivars described as having this ability, it is best to assume that the fruit of American persimmons needs to ripen on the tree.
A number of species of mammals and birds are fond of the fruit. So far they haven't been too much of a problem, except that we have had a bear rip the branches off a young persimmon tree to get at the fruit. We have been growing American persimmon trees at Tripple Brook Farm for at least 30 years.
American persimmon grows best in moist, rich, sandy soil, but is quite adaptable; it can even tolerate poor, dry locations. It is said that the trees will grow larger and live longer if the soil conditions are favorable. The tree will tolerate a bit of shade, but for good fruit production it needs plenty of sun.
Persimmon trees normally are either male or female; female trees usually require pollination in order to set fruit (but see exceptions noted below). Some American persimmons are said to have the ability to produce seedless fruit if grown without a pollinator. Persimmon is, however, native to much of the eastern and central U.S.; seedless fruit may be hard to come by in the native range of the tree, since the trees are insect pollinated and pollination from wild or cultivated male trees can occur over substantial distances.
