July 2002

Question and Answer
By: Beverly Shaw, Advanced Master Gardener- Purdue University

Q. I'm having a similar problem with persimmons. A friend gave me two trees about 8 years ago, and they have grown very well -- but no fruit! I check every year for blossoms, but I don't think I see any. I don't understand the "birds and bees" of these plants. Can you help me?

A. The native persimmon is botanically known as Diospyros virginiana. The species is native throughout the lower Midwest and the southeastern states. It is known to be hardy to temperatures of -20-25 F without apparent winter injury. The native persimmon is a small tree, but may often reach a height of 40-50 feet and occasionally even larger under ideal conditions.

The greenish-yellow flowers are borne on very short stalks. The staminate (male) flowers are usually borne in threes, are about one-fourth to one-third inch long, and usually contain 16 stamens. The pistillate (female) flowers are borne singly, ranging one-half to three-fourths inch in length with four two-lobed styles.

The persimmon is dioecious, that is, each tree produces only either male or female flowers. This means that both male and female trees are usually necessary to produce a crop of fruit. The native persimmon is regularly dioecious, with male trees producing only staminate flowers and female trees producing only pistillate flowers. Only in rare instances are trees self-pollinating.

When planting seedling trees, be sure that you have female trees, if fruit is desirable. This can only be proven by fruiting the trees. For positive fruiting, both male and female trees should be planted. The exception is that in the natural range of the persimmon, adequate wild trees will be available for pollination. As an added thought, if the trees are intended for ornamental purposes only, and fruit is not desired, then a male tree might be selected to eliminate the problem and mess of dropping fruit.

It is probably best to obtain budded or grafted trees from a reliable nursery to be sure of getting the type of trees you want and trees with desirable fruit characteristics.

Care of the persimmon is minimal. Fertilization is not usually necessary, other than the fertilization that would normally be given to a lawn. Pruning is not usually needed, except to limit tree size, and to correct faults such as dead or broken limbs.

Again, chances are good that you have two trees of the same gender, or they have not quite reached maturity. It can take 10 or more years for persimmons to begin fruiting, although some will begin much earlier.

The oriental persimmon, Diospyros kaki, is not native to Indiana and is not adapted to Indiana conditions. Hoosier winters are too cold to permit cultivation of this species, except in rare and very protected situations. It is not hardy below about 10 F. This is the species of commerce and is grown commercially in southern areas of California. The fruit ranges to 3 inches across and is seedless in most varieties. Nursery catalogs frequently advertise this species, but Indiana gardeners are cautioned against purchasing plants of D. kaki.