Plant Details

Diospyros virginiana

American Persimmon

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Common names

29 names · 20 languages
EnglishYour language
  • American Persimmon[2]
  • Common persimmon[1][2]
  • possum apples[2]
+5 more namesShow fewer names
Other languages (19)
Dutch
  • Amerikaanse persimoen[2]
  • Virginische dadelpruim
French
  • Plaqueminier américain[2]
  • Plaqueminier de Virginie[2]
Alabama
Catalan
Cherokee
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • tomel viržinský[2]
Danish
  • amerikansk kaki[2]
Finnish
  • amerikanpersimoni[2]
Japanese
  • アメリカガキ[2]
Kiowa
  • ts'iyííłzhįįhįįbíje'e[2]
Miami
  • pyaakimišaahkwi[2]
Russian
  • Хурма виргинская[2]
Slovak
  • ebenovník virgínsky[2]
Spanish
  • Caqui americano[2]
Swedish
Turkish
  • Amerikan Hurması[2]
Ukrainian
  • Хурма віргінська[2]
Sources & name notes (2)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Diospyros virginiana L. ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Common persimmon — VernacularName.tsv, line 152826; taxon 6D8DM.
[2] Diospyros virginiana — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • American persimmon — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 83435; Diospyros virginiana.
  • common persimmon — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 83435; Diospyros virginiana.
  • Хурма виргинская — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 83435; Diospyros virginiana.
  • tomel viržinský — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 83435; Diospyros virginiana.
  • アメリカガキ — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 83435; Diospyros virginiana.
  • ebenovník virgínsky — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 83435; Diospyros virginiana.
  • persimon — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 83435; Diospyros virginiana.
  • Biɬko — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 83435; Diospyros virginiana.
  • 美洲柿 — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 83435; Diospyros virginiana.
  • 美洲柿 — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 83435; Diospyros virginiana.
  • ts'iyííłzhįįhįįbíje'e — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 83435; Diospyros virginiana.
  • pyaakimišaahkwi — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 83435; Diospyros virginiana.
  • amerikansk kaki — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 83435; Diospyros virginiana.
  • Simmon — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 83435; Diospyros virginiana.
  • possumwood — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 83435; Diospyros virginiana.
  • possum apples — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 83435; Diospyros virginiana.
  • sugar plum — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 83435; Diospyros virginiana.
  • ᏌᎵ — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 83435; Diospyros virginiana.
  • Plaqueminier américain — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 83435; Diospyros virginiana.
  • Plaqueminier de Virginie — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 83435; Diospyros virginiana.
  • Amerikaanse persimoen — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 83435; Diospyros virginiana.
  • amerikanpersimoni — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 83435; Diospyros virginiana.
  • Sugarplum — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 83435; Diospyros virginiana.
  • Sugar-plum — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 83435; Diospyros virginiana.
  • Persimó — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 83435; Diospyros virginiana.
  • Caqui americano — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 83435; Diospyros virginiana.
  • Хурма віргінська — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 83435; Diospyros virginiana.
  • Amerikan Hurması — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 83435; Diospyros virginiana.

General information

Scientific name: Diospyros virginiana
Accepted name (Kew): Diospyros virginiana L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [4] [5]
Botanical family: Ebenaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Diospyros (WCVP v16).

Sources [4]
Also known as: American Persimmon
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Fruit tree
Catalogue size class: Large
Height: 9.14–24.38 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [2]
Spread: 6.1–10.67 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [2]
Growth rate: Slow

A typical growth category; growth varies with age, climate and growing conditions.

Sources [2] [3]
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [2]
Growth habit: Columnar, Oval, Pyramidal, Rounded

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [2]
Life cycle: Perennial
Sources [2]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [2]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist, Occasionally Dry

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [2]
Soil:
Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand
Sources [2]
pH:
Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [2]
Light:
Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [2]

Uses

Edible parts:
Fruit, Oil
Edibility rating:
(5)
Medicinal rating:
(1)
Functions:
Oil, Wood

Description

American persimmon is a deciduous fruit tree. Fruit is astringent before ripening and can be eaten ripe or used in baked foods. Frost is not required for ripening and can damage immature fruit.

Sources [1] [2]

Harvest

Harvest starts: 15/09
Harvest ends: 15/11

Crown

Crown shape: Broad pyramidal
Crown density: Dense crown

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. University of Georgia Extension Home Garden Persimmons
    Supports: Description
    Relevant sections
    • Description: Varieties and harvesting sections

    Source checked on .

  2. NC State Extension Plant Toolbox Diospyros virginiana
    Supports: DescriptionGrowth rateHeightSpreadFoliageGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Description: Description; Whole Plant Traits; Edibility; Poison Symptoms and Toxic Principle, where applicable
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 30 ft. 0 in. - 80 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 20 ft. 0 in. - 35 ft. 0 in.
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .

  3. USDA Forest Service Diospyros virginiana L. Common Persimmon
    Supports: Growth rate
    Relevant sections
    • Growth rate: Abstract

    Source checked on .

  4. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1224034; name ID 383603; Diospyros L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 329510; name ID 385000; Diospyros virginiana L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  5. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Diospyros virginiana

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 2079236, ID 6D8DM: Diospyros virginiana L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .