Overview

Introduce a delightful and productive addition to your landscape with the American Persimmon live plant. This young tree, scientifically known as Diospyros virginiana, offers both ornamental beauty and delicious, sweet fruit. Standing between 6 to 12 inches tall and carefully nurtured in a 4-inch pot, this specimen is perfectly sized for transplanting into your garden. The American Persimmon is a robust and adaptable native tree, renowned for its attractive foliage, distinctive bark, and its bountiful harvest of flavorful, orange-hued fruits. Perfect for those looking to enjoy homegrown produce, this American Persimmon live plant is a fantastic choice for establishing a long-lasting fruit-bearing tree in your yard.

The American Persimmon is a deciduous tree, meaning it will shed its leaves in the fall, often displaying beautiful autumn colors before doing so. Its fruit ripens in late fall, typically after the first frost, which sweetens and softens the fruit to perfection. This makes it a highly anticipated seasonal treat. Our American Persimmon live plant arrives well-rooted and ready for its new home, providing a head start on growing your own fruit. Whether you are a seasoned gardener or just beginning your journey into fruit tree cultivation, this plant offers a rewarding experience with minimal fuss once established.

Key Benefits

Adding an American Persimmon live plant to your garden brings a multitude of advantages, from its aesthetic appeal to its delicious yield. This resilient tree provides both beauty and bounty, enhancing your outdoor space in many ways.

• Delicious Edible Fruit: Enjoy sweet, flavorful persimmons directly from your own tree. The fruit is excellent for fresh eating, baking, jams, and preserves, offering a unique taste profile that is highly sought after in the fall.
• Attractive Landscape Addition: Beyond its fruit, the American Persimmon tree offers ornamental value with its appealing form, attractive foliage that turns vibrant colors in autumn, and interesting bark texture, making it a beautiful focal point in any garden.
• Wildlife Attractor: The fruit is a favorite food source for local wildlife, including birds and deer, contributing to the biodiversity of your garden ecosystem.
• Cold Hardy and Adaptable: This species is known for its excellent cold hardiness, thriving in a wide range of climates (USDA Zones 7-10), making it a reliable choice for many regions. It can tolerate various soil conditions once established.
• Low Maintenance Once Established: After its initial planting and establishment period, persimmon tree care is relatively straightforward, requiring less intensive intervention compared to some other fruit trees, making it suitable for busy gardeners.
• Long-Lived Tree: American Persimmon trees are known for their longevity, providing many years of fruit production and enjoyment for generations to come.
• Native Species: As a native species, Diospyros virginiana is well-adapted to North American climates and ecosystems, contributing to local plant diversity and requiring less intervention than non-native alternatives.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Proper care for your American Persimmon live plant will ensure its healthy growth and abundant fruit production. These trees are relatively forgiving once established, but a good start is crucial for successful cultivation. For optimal growth, your persimmon tree requires full sun exposure, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Choose a planting site that receives ample light throughout the day, away from competing shade from buildings or other large trees. This will encourage strong growth and a good fruit set. While young, protect the tree from harsh winds if possible.

When it comes to watering, young American Persimmon live plants need consistent moisture to establish their root system. Water deeply once or twice a week, especially during dry periods, ensuring the soil remains consistently moist but not waterlogged. Once the tree is established, it becomes more drought-tolerant, but supplemental watering during extended dry spells will benefit fruit production. The ideal soil for growing persimmon fruit is well-draining loam, sandy soil, chalk soil, or silt soil. It should be rich in organic matter. Persimmons tolerate a range of soil pH, but prefer slightly acidic to neutral conditions. Ensure good drainage to prevent root rot.

Fertilization is beneficial, especially for young trees. In early spring, apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer designed for fruit trees. Avoid over-fertilizing, which can promote leafy growth at the expense of fruit. Pruning should be done in late winter or early spring while the tree is dormant. Focus on removing dead, damaged, or crossing branches, and shape the tree to maintain an open structure for good air circulation and light penetration. This also aids in harvesting the fruit. Given its cold hardiness, American Persimmon thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 7-10, making it a resilient choice for various climates. The specific scientific name Diospyros virginiana underscores its native adaptability.

Size & Details

This American Persimmon live plant is supplied as a young, actively growing specimen, ready for transplanting into your garden or a larger container. Each plant measures approximately 6 to 12 inches in height from the top of the soil, providing a robust start to your fruit tree journey. It comes securely planted in a 4-inch nursery pot, ensuring the root system is well-established and protected during transit. The plant is well-rooted, indicating a healthy and vigorous specimen. Expect a moderate growth rate, reaching a mature height of 30-60 feet over many years, with a spread of 20-35 feet, forming a beautiful, rounded canopy.

The trees are shipped in their nursery pots, with soil intact, to minimize stress and ensure a smooth transition to your garden. While the initial size is compact, with proper persimmon tree care, this plant will grow into a substantial, fruit-bearing tree. Fruit production typically begins within 3-5 years after planting, with increasing yields as the tree matures. The vibrant orange fruit, a hallmark of growing persimmon fruit, will ripen in the fall, offering a delightful harvest. This species, Diospyros virginiana, is a true investment in your home orchard.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this American Persimmon live plant get? A: This particular live plant is 6 to 12 inches tall when shipped in its 4-inch pot. As it matures, an American Persimmon tree can reach a height of 30-60 feet and a spread of 20-35 feet, becoming a significant shade and fruit tree in your landscape.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The American Persimmon live plant is an outdoor tree. It requires full sun exposure and is best suited for planting directly in the ground where it can grow to its full potential and produce fruit. It is not suitable for long-term indoor cultivation.
• Q: How much sunlight does the American Persimmon tree need? A: This tree thrives in full sun, meaning it needs at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Adequate sunlight is crucial for healthy growth and robust fruit production.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Once established, the American Persimmon live plant is relatively low-maintenance. It is quite adaptable to various soil types and is drought-tolerant, making persimmon tree care manageable for most gardeners. Initial care involves consistent watering and proper site selection.
• Q: What condition will the plant arrive in? A: Your American Persimmon live plant will arrive well-rooted in its 4-inch nursery pot, with soil intact. We take great care in packaging to ensure it reaches you in healthy, ready-to-plant condition.
• Q: When is the best time to plant an American Persimmon tree? A: The best time to plant an American Persimmon tree is in early spring or fall. This allows the tree to establish its root system before the extreme temperatures of summer or winter.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: Yes, the American Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) is a very cold hardy fruit tree and is suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 7-10. It can withstand significant winter temperatures in these regions.
• Q: What type of soil does this plant prefer for growing persimmon fruit? A: American Persimmon trees prefer well-draining soil, thriving in loamy, sandy, chalk, or silt soils. Good drainage is key to prevent root issues, though they are quite tolerant of various soil conditions.
• Q: How long until it starts producing fruit? A: Typically, an American Persimmon live plant will begin producing fruit within 3-5 years of planting, with yield increasing as the tree matures. Patience is rewarded with delicious harvests.
• Q: Is this a self-pollinating tree? A: While some American Persimmon trees are self-pollinating, others may require a male and female tree for optimal fruit production. Planting more than one can often increase yields.