Although American persimmons are smaller than their Asian counterparts found in grocery stores, they are just as sweet, juicy, and delicious!  While the Japanese Fuyu or Hachiya are grown commercially in California and other warm and dry areas of the southern US, the American persimmon is native to the Appalachians and southeast where they are quite cold hardy.  Even in a short and cloudy Willamette Valley summer, these American persimmons ripen very reliably.

This variety is self-fertile, and though it may not set viable seed inside the fruit, an additional male tree is not required for fruit production from this female tree.  Persimmons have a tap root and appreciate well-drained soil and plenty of sun, so they are going to be increasingly useful in this area as our climate changes.  They don’t need extensive pruning the way that an appple, pear, plum, or other fruit tree does.