Common Persimmon
Diospyros virginiana · Deciduous Broadleaf Hardwood
Plant Family
Ebenaceae
Tree Category
Fruit Tree / Ornamental
Variety / Cultivar
None (Wild variety)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-9; highly adaptable to heat and cold extremes.
About This Tree
A medium-sized tree often reaching a slender, oval-to-rounded habit with an airy crown. Notable for its uniquely blocky, 'alligator-skin' bark and characteristic edible orange fruit. Growth rate is slow to moderate.
Leaf Characteristics
Simple, alternate, ovate to elliptic; 2.5 to 6 inches long; glossy dark green above, paler below. Foliage turns yellowish to reddish-purple in autumn.
Bark Characteristics
Thick, dark gray to blackish-brown bark broken into deep, square or rectangular, scaly blocks resembling alligator skin or charred wood.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Eastern and Central United States, well-adapted to the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern states.
Growing Season
Leafs out in late spring; flowers late May-June; fruits ripen in late autumn after the first frost, entering dormancy in winter.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Prefers Full Sun for best fruiting but tolerates Partial Shade. Moderate water needs; very drought-tolerant once established.
Mature Size
35-60 feet height, 25-35 feet spread; trunk diameter 1-2 feet; typically long-lived (80+ years).
Special Characteristics
Highly valued for its extremely hard wood often used for golf club heads and tool handles. Fruits are edible but astringent until fully soft and ripe. Excellent disease resistance.
Wildlife & Ecology
Provides critical high-energy food for deer, raccoons, opossums, and foxes. The nectar-rich flowers support honeybees and various pollinators.