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American persimmon

Diospyros virginiana

The American persimmon is a sweet fruit tree that grows tall and has beautiful leaves. Its orange fruit is yummy and can be eaten when it's ripe, making it a favorite for many animals.

Habitat: Forests

Appearance

The American persimmon has distinctive blocky, dark gray-black bark and simple, oval leaves that turn fiery red-orange in autumn. Its small, pale yellow flowers give way to round, orange, sweet fruits that remain on branches into winter.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderEricalesFamilyEbenaceaeGenusDiospyros
American persimmon
deciduous trait badgeshade_tolerant trait badgebroadleaf_tree trait badgefruit_bearing trait badge
American persimmon

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

Be the first to snap!

Interesting facts

Eating an unripe persimmon makes your mouth feel like it's shrinking and puckering!

Its strong, dense wood is famous for making golf club heads and billiard cues!

Squirrels and raccoons can magically tell exactly when persimmons are perfectly ripe!

The word 'persimmon' means 'fruit-of-a-fire-red-dye' in an ancient Algonquian language!

Special abilities

Ability

Sour Surprise

American persimmon fruit is super astringent when unripe, making animals wait until it's perfectly sweet and soft to eat it!

Ability

Thirsty Root

It has a deep taproot that helps it find water deep underground, allowing it to survive even long, dry spells.

Ability

Fire Armor

Its thick, blocky bark acts like a natural shield, helping the tree survive many forest fires.

Measurements & details

Height
1000-2000 cm
Spread
600-1200 cm
Flower Size
1-2 cm
Bloom Season
Late spring to early summer
Edible
Yes
Toxicity
None
Lifecycle
Perennial
Pollination Method
Insect

Ecological connections

eats

American Black Bear

Ursus americanus

bears feast on ripe, sugary fruits

eats

Virginia Opossum

Didelphis virginiana

opossums enjoy the sweet fallen fruit

eaten by

White-tailed Deer

Odocoileus virginianus

deer browse on its leaves and young twigs

pollinates

Honey Bee

Apis mellifera

bees visit its small, bell-shaped flowers

Traits

Also known as

Persimmon

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always ask an adult before picking or eating any fruit from trees.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall is American persimmon?

1000-2000 cm

How wide does American persimmon spread?

600-1200 cm

How big are the flowers on American persimmon?

1-2 cm

When does American persimmon bloom?

Late spring to early summer

Is American persimmon edible?

Yes

Is American persimmon toxic?

None

What is American persimmon's lifecycle?

Perennial

How is American persimmon pollinated?

Insect

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