Persimmon, Common

The Common Persimmon is a small to medium sized tree to 60 feet with a round-topped crown of crooked branches. In forest stands the stem may be straight, tall, and slender. Persimmons are widely distributed medium to large deciduous trees forming colonies via suckers. It is native to east and east-central Texas but is adaptable to many soil types. Young trees are distinctively pyramidal but become oval with age. Females yield edible fruit that can be messy in the landscape.

The LEAVES are a dark glossy green that can develop yellow, orange, to red-purple fall color. Alternate, simple, oblong to oval, 2 1/2 to 5 inches long, pinnately-veined, margin entire, lustrous green above and paler or whitened below.

The FLOWERS are usually Dioecious; both white to greenish-white and about 1/2 inch long; male flowers in 3’s; female flowers solitary and urn-shaped, appear in late spring and early summer.

The FRUIT is a glossy, waxy orange pome that when ripe can be relatively sweet but typically is quite tart. The SEEDS have been used by old-timers to predict the weather for the up-coming season. Squirrels, raccoons and possums relish the fruit. It’s a sight to watch s a small squirrel run off with a large persimmon in its mouth.

The BARK When young is gray-brown with orange in fissures, later becoming much darker, breaking up into square scaly thick plates; reminiscent of charcoal briquettes (very unique).