Diospyros Virginiana
American Persimmon is not the Persimmon most people are used to that you buy in the store… Those are Asian Persimmons, which are larger, but the flavor is much weaker… A true American Persimmon is an absolutely stunning flavor that is rich, deep, sweet and complex. A perfectly ripe Persimmon from a quality tree can have a taste like caramel with hints of tangerine and heavy cream with a texture like a dense, rich custard.

Perhaps the most important aspect to this fruit is that it ripens around Thanksgiving! In cold years, the trees are known to hold their fruit deep into the winter! Imagine delicious, sweet, fresh fruit from your own trees in January!

Incredibly hardy tree, easily adapts to all situations, can tolerate a lot of pressure from weeds and browse, drought and flood tolerant, and a beautiful tree… Incredibly worthwhile. There are both males and females (unknown when 1st and 2nd year seedlings), so you need at least a few trees to be guaranteed fruit.

Trees you buy through Edible Acres are grown from seed from selected cultivar parents. These parent trees are from Elwyn Meader of New Hampshire, plant breeder extraordinaire. The fruits are large, rich and flavorful. The trees we collect from have borne heavy crops of fruit every single year for the 8 years we've collected fruit and seed from them! Amazing!

Size:
Can be between 30’ and 80’ tall depending on site. Can be pruned or left alone. Harvest of fruit is done by shaking tree, so it being tall doesn’t hinder harvest.

Site Preference:
Prefers full sun but can stand a wide range of environments.

Hardiness:
Zone 5 (most likely colder... Our friend in Vermont is now growing seedlings of our trees and they are handling his solidly zone 4 situation)

Note:
When you get plants from us, you should expect the roots and all below ground parts to be pure black. Please don’t be alarmed. This is not dead plant material. Persimmon is in the Ebony family and their roots and heartwood are almost pure black.

We offer plants that are ready to be planted in their final location and also have ‘Grade B’ which are seedlings that haven’t quite reached a threshold to be considered fully retail ready. These seedlings are completely alive and healthy, just a little small. They can be planted out in their final homes with a bit of extra TLC, watering, mulch, etc., or best would be to plant them in a communal ‘nursery bed’ to grow for one full season, develop much larger root systems and be very field ready in one growing season. A very economical way to get lots of plants for sure!