Persimmon, Texas

Diospyros texana is a species of persimmon that is native to central and west Texas and southwest Oklahoma in the United States, and eastern Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas in northeastern Mexico. Common names include Texas Persimmon, Mexican Persimmon and the more ambiguous “black persimmon. D. texana is a multi-trunked small tree or large shrub with a lifespan of 30 to 50 years. It usually grows to 10 ft in height, but can reach 40 ft on good sites. The form is characteristic where multiple trunks spread to form a unique vase shape.

The sclerophyllus LEAVES are obovate, dark green, 0.80–2.0 in long and 0.40–1.2 in wide. Apexes are obtuse to emarginate. Upper surfaces are glossy while lower surfaces are covered in fine hairs and lack basilaminar glands. Leaves are attached to 0.04–0.20 in petioles. Trees are deciduous in the north of their range and become evergreen further south.

D. texana is dioecious (separate male and female trees) and produces FLOWERS starting in March or April. The flowers are white, urn-shaped, and 0.3–0.6 in wide. They have five sepals, five petals, 16 stamens, and four styles. Flowers are solitary or form on cymes of two to three.

The FRUIT of D. texana are black, subglobose berries with a diameter of 0.60–1.0 inch that ripen in August. Berries contain three to eight light red, triangular SEEDS around 0.3 in in length.

The TWIGS are Slender, gray and fuzzy for most of the first year; buds are small, blunt, tan and hairy.

The BARK is Very attractive, generally smooth with various shades of gray and brown where it peels in patches.

WILDLIFE: The fleshy berries are edible and sweet when ripe and are used in puddings and custards; they are also relished by many species of birds and mammals.

The SAPWOOD of Texas Persimmon is clear yellow, while the HEARTWOOD, found only in very large trees, is black (ebony) like that of the related D. ebenum. The heartwood is hard, dense, and takes a high polish. It is used to make engraving blocks, artwork, and tools