Images of the Common Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana)

Common Persimmon

Diospyros virginiana

Also called the American Persimmon, this native to the United States has been cultivated for its edible fruit and valuable wood since prehistoric times. Trees can reach heights of 30 m and produce delicious, large orange fruits that ripen in late autumn. Persimmon fruits are high in vitamin C and are used in a variety of desserts. The Latin name Diospyros means “Apple of the Gods.”

Habitat:Forests, roadsides, old fields.

Growth Habit:Deciduous tree, growing 15-20 m tall.

Bloom Time:Summer.

Longevity:Long-lived.

Presence in US:AL AR CA CT DC DE FL GA IA IL IN KS KY LA MA MD MO MS NC NE NJ NY OH OK PA SC TN TX UT VA WV

This project was supported in part by NSF Grant IIS-03-25867 (ITR: An Electronic Field Guide: Plant Exploration and Discovery in the 21st Century) and by the Washington Biologists' Field Club.

Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official views, opinions, or policy of the National Science Foundation (NSF).