American Persimmon

American Persimmon is a native fruiting tree that adds rugged beauty, rich fall flavor, and exceptional wildlife value to any landscape. Typically growing 20 to 60 feet tall, it features blocky, alligator-like bark, lustrous green leaves, and an open, graceful branching habit that provides seasonal interest even in winter. In early summer, small, fragrant yellow-green flowers bloom—modest in appearance but highly attractive to pollinators. On female trees (when pollinated by a nearby male), these flowers give way to round, orange to apricot-colored fruits that ripen in late fall.

Initially mouth-puckering, the fruits mellow into luscious sweetness after frost, making them a prized treat for people and wildlife alike. Birds, foxes, raccoons, opossums, and more eagerly consume the fruit, while the tree also serves as a larval host for moths such as the Luna Moth and Royal Walnut Moth.

Why Choose American Persimmon?

• Delicious Fall Fruit: Sweet, frost-ripened fruits are edible and highly prized by people and wildlife.
• Ecological Powerhouse: Supports pollinators and lepidopteran larvae, plus provides food for dozens of animal species.
• Low-Maintenance and Tough: Adapts to a wide range of soils and conditions, including drought once established.
• Understated Elegance: Blocky bark, glossy foliage, and seasonal fruit offer subtle beauty throughout the year.
  

Maintenance Tips

• Choose the Right Site: Its deep taproot makes transplanting difficult, so plant when young and avoid moving.
• Plan for Pollination: To produce fruit, a female tree must be pollinated by a male tree nearby—plant both if space allows.
• Minimal Pruning Needed: Prune only to shape or remove dead wood, preferably in winter while dormant.
• Adaptable Soil Preferences: Will grow in sandy, loamy, or clay soils but prefers well-drained sites.
  

• Dioecious: Both male and female trees are needed for fruit production.
• Fruit drop can be messy near walkways—best sited in low-traffic zones if fruiting is expected.
• Minimal pruning required; train early for form if desired.
• Extremely tolerant of poor soils and dry conditions once established.
• Propagation is easiest from seed or root suckers (common in wild settings).