Common Persimmon
Diospyros virginiana
Click or tap the section titles below to learn more about this species!
CLASSIFICATION: What’s in a name?
Scientific Name: Diospyros virginiana. The genus, Diospyros, means “divine fruit” and is derived from the Greek words dios (divine) and pyros (wheat or grain). The epithet virginiana and similar ones like virginiensis, virginica, virginianum, virginicum, and virginianus all mean “of Virginia.” A lot of plants share this epithet!1
Common Name: Common persimmon. The name persimmon is a rendering of the Algonquian word for this tree, which is native to North America.2 Other names for this tree include American persimmon, possumwood, possum apples, and winter plum—descriptive names for the fruit and opossums’ love for it!3
Family: Ebenaceae (Ebony Family). Many of the roughly 850 species in this family are found in the tropics, while some also grow in warm-temperate regions. The majority of the trees are dioecious, having male and female flowers with only one type growing on each tree. Most of these trees have alternate, unlobed, untoothed leaves. The flower petals are fused at the base, and the fruits are berries with 1–2 large seeds. The dense, dark wood of trees in the ebony family is used for furniture, while the fruits from persimmons (Diospyros spp.) are edible. Interestingly, Diospyros virginiana is the only native species in the ebony family in Virginia.4,5
IDENTIFICATION: What does it look like?
Average Height: up to 60 feet
Description: This medium sized tree has crooked branches, and its distinctive bark forms thick, gray, squarish blocks on mature trees. The deciduous leaves are untoothed and oval, alternating on the branch and measuring 2 ½–6” long and 1–2” wide. The upper sides of the leaves are glossy green while the undersides are pale with short hairs. The white to yellowish flowers measure ⅓–⅔” long. Male flowers are in clusters of 2–3, while female flowers are solitary. These trees are dioecious. A single tree will have flowers with only male or female reproductive parts, so pollination requires both male and female flowering trees. Fruits are round like small plums, about 1–2” across. They turn from green to orange when ripe, and have distinct leafy bracts on top. Fruits ripen in the fall, and are often considered ready to pick after a frost.1,5,8,12
Bloom time: May – Jun
Notes: The persimmon fruit that you may sometimes find in the store comes from Diospyros kaki, which is native to parts of Asia and also known as Chinese or Japanese persimmon.
LOCATION: Where is it at home?
Range: Common throughout the Piedmont and Coastal Plain of Virginia, it is absent from a number of counties in the southwest and is only found at lower elevations in the mountains.6 This species is native to the eastern and central United States, ranging from New York south to Florida, and west to Nebraska and Texas.7
Geology/Soil: Tolerant of a variety of conditions—from moist to dry soil and full sun to partial shade. With a preference for moist, sandy soil, it can be found growing in soil containing silt, sand, loam, clay-loam, and rocks.1,8
Habitat: Common in open spaces like roadsides, old fields, and fencerows. Also present in a variety of natural communities including rocky woodlands, moist to dry upland forests, swamp forests, flatwoods, and dune woodlands.5,6,8
CONNECTIONS: What are its relationships to other plants, animals, and humans?
Flora associations: Associated with a wide range of species due to the varied habitats it grows in. At Greenbrier Park, it is found growing with boxelder (Acer negundo var. negundo), spicebush (Lindera benzoin), smooth alder (Alnus serrulata), bottlebrush grass (Elymus hystrix), Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus), and Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia).
Fauna associations: Many types of bees, flies, and skippers visit the flowers seeking nectar and pollen, but persimmons are pollinated by long-tongued bees, a group including bumblebees, mason bees, leaf-cutting bees, and digger bees.8
Other insects use this species as a host plant and feed on different parts of the tree. Some of these insects, such as the small and large necklace moths (Hypsoropha hormos and Hypsoropha monilis), the persimmon borer (Sannina uroceriformis), the persimmon Psyllid (Baeoalitriozus diospyri), a leaf-mining moth (Coptodisca diospyriella), and a metallic wood-boring beetle (Agrilus diospyroides), rely almost solely on Diospyros virginiana to feed their larvae. Notice how the scientific names of several of these insects (e.g. diospyroides) reveal their connection to Diospyros virginiana! Other insects, including beetles, scale insects, bugs, and the larvae of 51 different species of butterflies and moths may feed on this tree but not rely on it exclusively. Among these are the sculptured moth (Eumarozia malachitana), the luna moth (Actias luna), and the red-shouldered bostrichid beetle (Xylobiops basilaris) whose larvae feed on sapwood while the adults feed on twigs!8,9,10
Mammals, including opossum, raccoon, fox, and white-tailed deer, as well as birds like wild turkey, northern mockingbird, and American robin also feed on the ripe persimmon fruits.8
Human associations: Over time, humans have found a variety of medicinal and other uses for Diospyros virginiana. Parts of the tree are used by the Cherokee people to treat a wide range of complaints, such as heartburn, toothache, kidney stones, and liver problems. The Cherokee and Rappahannock people also use it to treat thrush and sore throats. In addition, many people enjoy eating the fruit when it is fully ripe (it will really make you pucker if it’s not ripe!) and making it into breads, puddings, and beverages. The wood is dense and hard and has been used for furniture, golf clubs, billiard cues, and more.1,10,11,12
We want these plants to thrive and for everyone who gets to visit the park to enjoy them, so remember – don’t pick flowers or other parts of the plant!!
Bibliography & Definitions
1 “Diospyros Virginiana – Plant Finder.” Www.missouribotanicalgarden.org, www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=279917. Accessed 6 Dec. 2024.
2 “Persimmon, N. & Adj. Meanings, Etymology and More | Oxford English Dictionary.” Oed.com, 2024, www.oed.com/dictionary/persimmon_n, https://doi.org/10.1093//OED//7423539825. Accessed 6 Dec. 2024.
3 “Diospyros Virginiana (American Persimmon, Common Persimmon, Date Plum, Eastern Persimmon, Jove’s Fruit, Persimmon, Possum Apples, Possumwood, Simmon, Winter Plum) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox.” Plants.ces.ncsu.edu, plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/diospyros-virginiana/. Accessed 6 Dec. 2024.
4 Stevens, Peter, and James L. Luteyn. “Ericales – Primulaceae, Herbaceous, Perennials | Britannica.” Encyclopedia Britannica, 2024, www.britannica.com/plant/Ericales/Primulaceae. Accessed 6 Dec. 2024.
5 Weakley, A.S., J.C. Ludwig, and J.F. Townsend. 2012. Flora of Virginia. Bland Crowder, ed. Foundation of the Flora of Virginia Project, Inc., Richmond. Fort Worth: Botanical Research Institute of Texas Press, pp.525-526.
6 “Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora | Diospyros Virginiana L.” Vaplantatlas.org, 2024, www.vaplantatlas.org/index.php?do=plant&plant=1865&search=Search. Accessed 6 Dec. 2024.
7 “NatureServe Explorer 2.0.” Natureserve.org, 2024, explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.159254/Diospyros_virginiana. Accessed 6 Dec. 2024.
8 “American Persimmon (Diospyros Virginiana).” Www.illinoiswildflowers.info, www.illinoiswildflowers.info/trees/plants/persimmon.htm. Accessed 6 Dec. 2024.
9 “Search – Diospyros Virginiana.” Bugguide.net, 2024, bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=diospyros+virginiana. Accessed 6 Dec. 2024.
10 “Specify Your Location – Native Plants Finder.” Nwf.org, 2015, nativeplantfinder.nwf.org/Plants/1081. Accessed 6 Dec. 2024.
11 “BRIT – Native American Ethnobotany Database.” Brit.org, 2024, naeb.brit.org/uses/search/?string=diospyros+virginiana. Accessed 6 Dec. 2024.
12 “Search Results for “Persimmon” – My Cherokee Garden.” My Cherokee Garden, 18 Mar. 2014, mycherokeegarden.com/?s=persimmon&submit=Search. Accessed 6 Dec. 2024.
13 Cherokee Nation. “Cherokee Ethnobiology: Common Persimmon.” https://www.cherokee.org/media/frkp25er/persimmon.pdf. Accessed 6 Dec. 2024.
14 “Virginia Tech Dendrology Fact Sheet – Common Persimmon.” Vt.edu, 2021, dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=29. Accessed 6 Dec. 2024.
Definitions:
Dioecious: Describes a species for which the flowers are unisexual—either male or female—and only one type of flower is present on an individual tree.