Persimmon (Native)
Can I Grow American Persimmon?
American persimmon is the cold-hardy native with intense, date-like sweetness when fully ripe. Wild trees dot the Eastern US, but named cultivars like 'Prok' and 'Yates' have superior fruit.
Growing Requirements
Chill Hours
800
Hardiness Zones
4-5-6-7-8-9
Harvest
October to November (after frost)
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About American Persimmon
American persimmon is the cold-hardy native with intense, date-like sweetness when fully ripe. Wild trees dot the Eastern US, but named cultivars like 'Prok' and 'Yates' have superior fruit.
American Persimmon requires 800 chill hours — the number of hours between 32°F and 45°F during winter dormancy. Without enough chill, the tree may fail to flower properly or produce poor fruit.
⚠️ Common Challenges
Astringent until dead-ripe (after frost); most trees are either male or female, so you may need two.
❌ Common Misconception
Can I grow American Persimmon in Zone 10 or warmer?
No. While American Persimmon is listed for zones 4-9, it requires 800 chill hours to produce fruit. Warm zones like 10+ typically receive only 200-400 chill hours. The tree may survive but will not fruit reliably. Consider low-chill alternatives like Anna apple (200h) or Tropic Snow peach (200h) instead.
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Variety, rootstock, planting date — and every pruning and harvest after that. Future you will thank you.
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Chill hour data from Open-Meteo Historical Weather API. Variety information compiled from university extension services.