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Native Plant Society of Texas

Common Persimmon

Diospyros virginiana

Other common name(s):

Eastern Persimmon, Possumwood, Date Plum, Winter Plum, Jove's Fruit

Family:

Ebenaceae (Ebony Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

Cross Timbers, East Central Texas Plains, Edwards Plateau, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Texas Blackland Prairies, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Limestone Cut Plain
Southern Post Oak Savanna
Balcones Canyonlands, Llano Uplift
Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies
Floodplains and Low Terraces1, Northern Blackland Prairie, Southern Blackland Prairie
Flatwoods, Southern Tertiary Uplands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Tree

Height

15
to
80
ft.

Spread

20
to
35
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Clay, Calcareous, Rich, Moist

Light Requirement

Sun

Water Requirement

Medium

Native Habitat

Grassland, Woodland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Yellow, Green

Bloom Season

Spring

Seasonal Interest

Fruit, Fall Color, Forage, Larval Host

Wildlife Benefit

Birds, Small Mammals, Moths, Bees

Maintenance

Aromatic, understory tree, accent tree. Under poor conditions, the tree may maintain a 15-foot shrub-like appearance. Can be used for erosion control. Two trees are necessary for the production of fruit. Native habitat: forests, seasonally flooded bottomlands, dry ridgetops, abandoned agricultural land. It can be grown as an ornamental or fruit tree in the home landscape, or in naturalized areas for wildlife. Can be placed in many types of gardens: a butterfly, children’s, native, nighttime, pollinator, or rain garden. Provides attractive fall color. Leaf spot may occur. Fruit drop can be messy. Mature trees produce root suckers that can become a weed problem.

Comments

Blooms April-June. The bark is dark reddish brown, deeply furrowed and irregularly blocky. Leaves are oval to eliptic. Persimmons are dioecious, meaning there are separate male and female trees, and you need both to get fruit. Flowers are solitary or 2-3-flowered cymes, borne on twigs of current season. The fruit is a berry, yellow to orange or dark red, round to oblong, Larval host: Luna Moth (Actias luna).
Previous Scientific Name(s): Diospyros mosieri, Diospyros virginiana var. mosieri, Diospyros virginiana var. platycarpa, Diospyros virginiana var. pubescens, Diospyros virginiana var. pubescens

References

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Seed Stratification Germinates easily from stratified seeds; seedling grow slowly. Stratify seeds in moist peat for 30-60 days at 36-41 degrees. Fruit ripens to bright orange in late Septemter to November. Clean fruit immediately to prevent mold and fermentation. Air-dry seeds and store in sealed, refrigerated containers. https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=DIVI5
Root Cutting Bury root cuttings in moist sand over winter and lift when shoot is well developed. https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=DIVI5
Seed Scarification Scarification does not seem to improve germination but clipping the caps can result in higher germination by encouraging radicle emergence. https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=DIVI5

About the Region

Fall Symposium 2025 Logo - Teach for the Future

Salado, the location of our Fall 2025 Symposium, lies at the intersection of two ecoregions: the Edwards Plateau (Limestone Cut Plain) and Blackland Prairie (Northern Blackland Prairie).

The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our fall Symposium host chapter, the Tonkawa Chapter, includes both of these ecoregions.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason