A persimmon tree gives you two harvests from one planting: sweet orange fruit in fall and a canopy of glossy leaves that turn gold, orange and red before they drop. TN Nursery offers two varieties on this page: the American persimmon (Diospyros virginiana), the native wild persimmon of the eastern United States, and the Fuyu persimmon (Diospyros kaki 'Fuyu'), the crisp Asian persimmon you find in grocery stores. Both ship bare root while dormant, in 1–2, 2–3 and 3–4 foot sizes, and every single-tree order is Buy 1 Get 1 Free.
Persimmon Tree at a Glance
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Botanical names: Diospyros virginiana (American persimmon); Diospyros kaki 'Fuyu' (Fuyu persimmon)
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Hardiness zones: American persimmon, USDA zones 4–9; Fuyu persimmon, zones 7–9
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Mature height: American persimmon, 35–60 feet in the open, usually 20–35 feet in a yard; Fuyu, 15–20 feet
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Sunlight: Full sun for the best fruit; light shade is fine
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Soil: Well-drained loam, sand or clay, slightly acidic to neutral
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Flowers: Small, creamy bell-shaped blooms in May and June
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Fruit: Ripens September through November
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Shipped as: Bare-root tree, 1–4 feet
Choose Your Persimmon Variety
American Persimmon (Native Persimmon)
The American persimmon is the tree Southern families have gathered fruit from for generations. Its fruit is about the size of a plum, turns orange blushed with purple, and becomes soft, rich and honey-sweet once fully ripe. That ripening often lines up with the first frosts, which is why old-timers say to wait for a cold snap. Wild persimmon pudding, bread and jam all start here.
American persimmon trees are either male or female, and only the females bear fruit. Since young trees don't reveal which they are until they flower, plant at least two or three. The Buy 1 Get 1 Free offer makes that easy and gives you the best chance of a fruiting pair.
Fuyu Persimmon
Fuyu is a non-astringent Asian persimmon, so you can eat it firm and crunchy like an apple, straight off the tree. The fruit is larger than the native type, flattened and bright orange. Fuyu sets fruit without a pollinator, so one tree can produce a crop on its own. It grows smaller and rounder than the American persimmon, which makes it a good fit for backyards, home orchards and the edge of a vegetable garden in zones 7–9.
Why Gardeners Plant Persimmon Trees
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Homegrown fruit with no spraying program. Persimmons are among the easiest fruit trees for a home orchard, with very few pest problems.
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Fall color. The leaves turn yellow, orange and scarlet, and the fruit often hangs on after the leaves fall, glowing on bare branches.
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Wildlife food. Deer, turkeys, foxes, raccoons, opossums and many songbirds feed on fallen American persimmons. Hunters plant them along field edges and food plots for exactly that reason.
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Pollinator and caterpillar host. Bees work the spring flowers, and the native persimmon hosts dozens of moth and butterfly caterpillars, including the luna moth.
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Distinctive bark. Mature American persimmons develop thick, square-checkered bark that looks like alligator hide and adds winter interest.
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Adaptable roots. The deep taproot helps established trees ride out dry summers, heat and humidity.
Where Persimmon Trees Grow Best
Plant your persimmon tree in a sunny spot with soil that drains after a rain. The American persimmon grows naturally from Connecticut to Florida and west to Kansas and Texas, in old fields, fencerows and woodland edges, so it handles clay, sandy ground and average yard soil well. Fuyu prefers the milder winters of zones 7–9 and a sheltered, sunny location.
Good landscape uses include a home orchard, a wildlife planting along a field edge, a native shade tree for the back of a property, or a specimen tree where its fall color and fruit can be seen from the house.
How to Plant a Bare-Root Persimmon Tree
- Soak the roots in a bucket of water for an hour or two before planting.
- Dig a hole deep enough for the taproot to go straight down and wide enough to spread the side roots.
- Set the tree so the root collar sits at soil level, backfill with the native soil and firm it gently to remove air pockets.
- Water deeply, then add 2–3 inches of mulch in a wide ring, keeping it a few inches off the trunk.
- Water once a week through the first summer when rain is short.
Persimmons are among the last trees to leaf out in spring. A newly planted tree may stay bare until late spring before pushing new growth, so be patient. Space American persimmons 20–30 feet apart and Fuyu trees 15–20 feet apart.
Persimmon Tree FAQ
How long does it take a persimmon tree to bear fruit?
Fuyu persimmons often begin fruiting within 3–5 years. American persimmons grown from young trees usually start bearing in 4–8 years, with heavier crops as the tree matures.
Do I need two persimmon trees?
For the American persimmon, yes. Plant at least two so you have a male and a female tree. Fuyu is self-fruitful and produces fruit on its own.
When are persimmons ripe?
American persimmons are ripe when they turn soft and wrinkly and fall easily from the branch, usually from late September through November. Fuyu persimmons can be picked once they are fully orange and still firm.
Are persimmon trees easy to grow?
Yes. Once established, persimmon trees need little care beyond occasional water during drought. They rarely need pruning, spraying or fertilizer.
Can I grow a persimmon tree in Tennessee?
Yes. Tennessee falls in zones 6–7, ideal for the American persimmon. Fuyu grows well in zone 7 areas of the state with a sunny, protected location.
Grown by TN Nursery Since 1959
TN Nursery has grown trees on the Cumberland Plateau of Tennessee since 1959, and the nursery is still family-owned, with 170 acres in production. We grow native fruit trees because we plant them ourselves and know how well they do in real yards and farms. If you'd like to cover more ground for wildlife, our American persimmon seedlings come in bulk packs, and you can explore more fruit and berry plants or read our persimmon tree growing guide.
