How to Tell If You Have a Persimmon Tree

Persimmon trees bear an orange-red fruit in late autumn.

Oriental persimmon trees are native to China. The American version was introduced in California in the 1800s and has since cultivated in the Eastern United States. It grows from southeastern New York to Florida and as far west as Texas. These trees love full sun and are well-known for their apricotlike fruit. The bark sometimes provides wood for wood golf club heads and billiard cues. The persimmon tree has several individual characteristics that will help you identify it.

Instructions

1. Examine the branches of the tree. Persimmon trees have long drooping branches that give it a somewhat tropical appearance. Test to see whether these branches are brittle or pliable. Brittle branches indicate a persimmon tree.

2. Inspect the leaves of the tree. Look for leaves that are around 7 inches long and 4 inches wide. In the spring and summer, these leaves are a pale yellow-green to glossy green. In the fall, they turn bold shades of red, orange and yellow.

3. Check for persimmon fruit. The fruits that persimmons bear grow on new wood in the fall. When they first bloom, they are pale green and rancidly acidic. However, when they ripen at the end of the fall, they are orange and about the size of an apricot.

4. Examine the tree for flowers. Female persimmon trees produce white, bell-shaped flowers, while males show off pale-pink flowers. Look for one to five flowers per twig. These flowers should bloom on the new growth of the tree around March.

5. Look for "alligator" bark. Persimmon tree bark grows in distinctive square block patterns. It is dark in color, usually a dark gray or brown. It is an incredibly hard wood and will resist pressure.

References

• University of Arkansas: Persimmons
• California Rare Fruit Growers: Persimmon
• University of Florida: Common Persimmon
• University of Connecticut: Diospyros Virginiana