American Persimmon, or Diospyros virginiana, is named “fruit of the gods” because of its luscious, sweet fruits. It is a beautiful, adaptable, and under-used tree in the landscape. They are dioecious, meaning that male and female flowers occur on separate plants, although occasionally with this species, females have been known to produce some male flowers (polygamo-dioecious.) Though this may occur, it is highly recommended to plant more than one tree for best fruit production. It takes about 5-7 years from seed for the trees to begin fruiting. The fruit will drop from the trees late in the year once it is ready and will be soft to the touch. If partially ripe fruits are shaken from the trees, they will likely need to ripen for a few additional weeks indoors. American Persimmon trees are excellent for home orchards, planted as attractive specimen trees, or for naturalizing along forest margins or fencerows. They are a pioneering species, sometimes suckering from the root system which is fibrous and deep. Planting under and around this tree is still possible, and the suckers can easily be pruned off to keep it tidy. The flowers have a sweet aroma, and the fruits are eaten by many mammals. The foliage is often browsed by deer, so protection is recommended until it grows taller than browsing height (about 6′). The caterpillars of the Luna Moth use this tree as a host plant. Sources: Native Trees, Shrubs, & Vines by William Cullina Eastern/Central Medicinal Plants and Herbs by Steven Foster and James A. Duke Peterson Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants Eastern/Central North America by Lee Allen Peterson Missouri Botanical Garden Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Illinois Wildflowers The Morton Arboretum-Black Walnut Tolerance
