About American Persimmon Trees
The American persimmon tree is native to the United States, producing useful timber and a fruit that resembles a small golden plum. The fruit of the persimmon was popular with Native Americans, who used it to make puddings, cornbread, gruel and even brewed it for beer. The persimmon tree is easy to grow, requiring little care. Once it begins bearing fruit, it will continue doing so for 50 years or more. Does this Spark an idea?
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Description
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Also known as Diospyrus virginiana or possumwood, the American persimmon tree is a native deciduous fruit tree that grows to be 30 to 70 feet tall. The tree's bark has been described as resembling alligator hide. The tree's tiny white flowers are usually hidden by the 4-inch long dark green leaves and fall off to be replaced by the light-orange fruit. The persimmon grows best in USDA zones 5 to 9; however, there are some varieties that can be grown in zone 4.
Food Source
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The name for the genus of the American persimmon means "fruit of the gods." However, for generations, the persimmon has had a reputation for being bitter when not ripe. As Captain John Smith of Jamestown observed, "If not ripe, it will draw a man's mouth awrie with much torment." The fruit is fully ripe when it softens and the skin wrinkles; it can contain up to 30% sugar. Persimmons are a favorite of many wild birds and animals; to avoid having them eaten by animals, pick the fruit as soon as they start to soften and set them on a window ledge to finish ripening. In its unripened state, the fruit is toxic to animals.
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Timber Use
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The wood from the American persimmon is a dense, hard wood in the ebony family. It is used to make golf club heads, billiard cue sticks, shuttles, mallets and the handles of many tools.
Ornamental Plant
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In addition to being a fruit-bearing tree, with its drooping leaves, delicate bell-shaped flowers and interestingly-patterned bark, the American persimmon is a popular selection for an ornamental planting. The flowers also provide a source of nectar for honeybees. In the fall, the leaves change to a bright golden. It is a hardy tree and adapts to different soils and light, although it does best in the sun. Sending down a deep tap root makes the tree drought resistant.
Cultivation
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Buy American persimmon saplings locally or order from nurseries like the Oikos Tree Corps. It is difficult to determine the sex of persimmons; if you wish to to harvest fruit, buy 10 to 12 saplings. Due to the deep tap root, smaller saplings are easier to plant. The persimmon tree also grows from its seed.
Select a site for the persimmon that receives plenty of sunlight and has good soil that has been enriched with generous amounts of organic matter. Keep the tree well-watered for the first several years. If the persimmon is being planted from a seed, plant it in the fall and keep the soil moist to aid germination. Persimmons have few problems with diseases or insects. Once established, it generally bears fruit within 6 to 8 years.
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