Is Persimmon a Hard Wood?

They may not produce much lumber, but persimmon trees bear hard wood.

Whether you grow Asian or common persimmons, the trees possess myriad uses. They are handsome landscaping trees, and cooks prize their fruit for puddings, jam and other sweets. Additionally, the tree's hard wood makes it useful for furniture and small crafted pieces.

Wood Type

Persimmons are among the hardwood type of trees. The trees produce lumber that is not easily dented. Additionally, persimmon wood is considered especially strong, smooth and close-grained. Its color and texture resembles ebony.

Uses

As single specimens, persimmon trees grow neither tall nor broad enough to yield enough wood for large carpentry jobs. Reserve them for smaller-scale woodworking projects rather than as flooring or framing. Persimmon's hard, ebony-like wood results in excellent golf club handles. It is also useful for pool cues, looms and furniture.

Culture

While you're more likely to find the fruit of the Asian persimmon tree (Diospyros khaki) in the supermarket, the common, or native persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) seems the logical choice for American homeowners to grow. As a landscape element, persimmons are relatively easy to cultivate and boast gorgeous fall color. Untroubled by pests, the persimmon tree grows well in sun or partial shade. Both Asian and native persimmons produce hard wood.

References

• University of Illinois Extension: Persimmon
• University of Wisconsin: ExtensionCommon Persimmon
• Plants For A Future: Persimmon