Persimmon

Description

Needs no chill hours. Seedless, sweet.

Diospyros

Growing in Phoenix: Persimmons are beautiful trees with glossy green leaves that droop and branches that give them a flowing, tropical vibe, even though they are not tropical trees. The leaves offer Fall color in the garden, turning to shades of yellow, orange, and red. Tea is made from the fresh or dried leaves of persimmon plants. The ripe fruit in fall adds to the ornamental appeal in rich shades of deep persimmon orange. The fruits are classified as astringent and non-astringent. The non-astringent type is as crisp when ripe, similar to apples. The astringent varieties must ripen to be very soft and jammy before they can be eaten, or they have a very unpleasant mouthfeel.  In Phoenix they do best with afternoon shade, no winter protection is needed. It can be a container grown in a 30-gallon or larger container. 

See the planting and care guide page for planting and watering instructions.

Eureka: An astringent variety with medium-sized fruit. The fruit is ready from late October to December. They turn a deep orange color and have a flattened round shape. A heavy bearing variety. 

Hachiya: Acorn-shaped fruit is bright orange. It is astringent and needs to be ripened to a very soft jammy fruit. Deliciously sweet. Scoop out the flesh like pudding. Fruits August- September. 

Tam-O-Pan: One of the largest persimmon trees. It has uniquely shaped fruit that looks like squat tomatoes wearing a cap. An astringent variety that matures to a beautiful orange. 

Tani- Nashi:(CORRECT SPELLING- Tanenashi) An astringent variety that produces prolifically. Light orange to red skin and almost seedless. Ripen until very soft and jam-like.

Fuyu: One of the better-known non-astringent varieties, often found in the grocery store. Beautiful pumpkin orange squat fruit is crisp like an apple. Add to cheeseboards, lunch boxes, and even sandwiches. A beautiful-looking fall display.

Honey Jar Jujube

This extremely, sweet variety has an apple texture and flavor. It is a small deciduous tree growing approximately 20-40 feet at maturity. The fruit is smaller than some other varieties but it makes up for size in its sweet flavor, crunchiness, juiciness, and thin skin. It is said to be the juiciest variety. Great for fresh eating and dehydrating. Ripens early, from around August.

Shanxi Li

One of the largest jujube fruits. It is also called pear jujube, the fruits are over 2 inches long. The fruit is crisp and sweet fresh, but even sweeter when dried into a chewy date-like treat. The tree grows to about 20 ft but can be maintained smaller. 

Jujube is not suitable for containers long term. 

Sugar Cane

Small to medium-sized, reddish-brown fruit that is sweet and crunchy. The fruit grows in large clusters on a thorny bush. Its name comes from the intense sweetness, just like sugar cane. A mid-season ripening variety. Excellent for fresh eating but can also be dehydrated.