# Texas Persimmon (*Diospyros texana*) The Texas Persimmon is a small tree that grows in warm places. It has shiny leaves and produces sweet, dark fruits that are loved by animals and people alike! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Desert ![Texas Persimmon](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Diospyros_texana.jpg&width=800) Photo: homeredwardprice, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Diospyros_texana.jpg) ## Appearance The Texas Persimmon is a small, often multi-trunked tree with distinctive smooth, mottled grey and white bark that peels in patches. Its small, dark green leaves are leathery, and it produces tiny, bell-shaped white or cream flowers, leading to round, black, edible fruits. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Ericales - **Family:** Ebenaceae - **Genus:** Diospyros ## Interesting facts - If you taste an unripe green fruit, your mouth will feel like sandpaper! - Its scientific name, Diospyros, translates to 'fruit of the gods' in Greek! - Only female Texas Persimmon trees produce the tasty, dark, round fruits! - The hard, dark heartwood was once prized for making strong tool handles and archery bows. ## Special abilities - **Drought Warrior:** Texas Persimmon can thrive in dry, rocky soils using deep roots that seek out scarce water, helping it survive harsh conditions. - **Peeling Protector:** It has distinctive, smooth, grey bark that peels to reveal lighter layers, helping it shed parasites and sun damage. - **Sweet Seed Spreader:** The delicious, dark fruits attract animals, which eat them and help disperse its seeds far and wide to grow new trees. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 300-600 cm - **Spread:** 300-500 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar and pollen from flowers - **Eats:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — browses leaves and tender twigs - **Eaten by:** [Raccoon](https://www.snappit.app/explore/raccoon) (*Procyon lotor*) — enjoys the sweet, ripe fruits - **Eaten by:** [Brown Thrasher](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-thrasher) (*Toxostoma rufum*) — feasts on the dark, mature fruits ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [Fruit Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-tree): A fruit tree is a perennial tree that produces fruit, which is edible to humans or animals. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Desert](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/desert): Desert habitats are arid regions characterized by extremely low precipitation and often extreme temperatures, supporting specialized flora and fauna. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always ask an adult before trying any fruit from trees. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Texas Persimmon? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Texas Persimmon? 300-600 cm ### How wide does Texas Persimmon spread? 300-500 cm ### How big are the flowers on Texas Persimmon? 0.5-1 cm ### When does Texas Persimmon bloom? Spring ### Is Texas Persimmon edible? Yes ### Is Texas Persimmon toxic? None ### What is Texas Persimmon's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/natural-bridge-wildlife-ranch) — Texas, US · Zoo - [Bracken Cave](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bracken-cave) — Texas, US · Natural Landmark - [Fort Lancaster](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-lancaster) — Texas, US · Historic Site - [Homer Wilson Ranch](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/homer-wilson-ranch) — Texas, US · Historic Site - [Natural Bridge Caverns](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/natural-bridge-caverns) — Texas, US · Natural Landmark - [Pace Bend Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/pace-bend-park) — Texas, US · Park [View all places to see Texas Persimmon](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/texas-persimmon) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Texas Persimmon: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/texas-persimmon)