*Diospyros kaki

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*Diospyros kaki
JAPANESE PERSIMMON

Ebenaceae
Asia

Location: map coordinates K-11 (west of Conwell Hall),
N 39°11'13'' W 75°32'43''

Planting history: planted 5/6/10. Source: Willey Farms, DE. (Dr. S. Yost, USDA NIFA Capacity Building Grant funds).

Description:
  • deciduous tree
  • etymology: Diospyros from Greek dios = divine, and pyros = wheat (referring to the edible fruit); kaki = the Japanese name
  • leaf simple, rather large (4”-8” long)
  • trees usually dioecious (separate male and female trees), but sometimes both male and female flowers on same tree
  • fruits orange, 2”-4” diameter; soft and sweet when ripe. If not fully ripe, notably astringent (causes mouth to pucker); said to be less astringent after a frost, but this is probably more a matter of timing and ripeness. It’s best to avoid eating large quantities of persimmon skins, which has been linked to formation of hard masses (diospyrobezoars) in the digestive tract
  • in the Ebony family; wood hard, strong, heavy
  • prefers full sun, moist well-drained soil; has good drought-tolerance
  • this is the most commonly cultivated species of persimmon

*Non-native species (not native to Delaware)


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