Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana)

In October 2023, we identified and collected eight persimmon seeds from the Caney Lake district of Kisatchie National Forest in Webster Parish. The seeds were immediately planted in one big pot, and during the spring of 2024, they germinated. Seven seedlings grew vigorously in the same pot for approximately a year. 

This past spring, five of the saplings were planted in the arboretum, and two were set aside and repotted as a backup plan. Now that it's June, four out of the five saplings planted in the arboretum are alive, and one in particular looks great. The overall high germination rate and low mortality of these specimens shows how vigorously our native trees must fight for survival in wild conditions. Pampered and given every opportunity by helping human hands, they succeed easily.

This persimmon sapling grows in full sun toward the top of the grassy slope east of Rotary Hall. It is a year old. The trunk is very slender and wobbles under the weight of the big green leaves. Possums are eagerly awaiting the maturity of this tree, although it will be quite a few marsupial generations before any of them get a taste. Perhaps there's an old possum proverb: "The best time for an arboretum curator to plant a persimmon tree was ten generations ago."

Persimmon Fruits

 

October tends to be a good month for persimmon fruits in northwest Louisiana.

Ripe and ripening persimmons can be found throughout the month of October.

Can you tell which fruits are ripe and which ones need a little more time? Color, firmness and clinginess are all indicators.

Persimmon Fruits

Despite the great deal of fruit produced, there is only one female persimmon tree (Diospyros virginiana) in the arboretum. Looking at the ground underneath the specimen, one can clearly see that she and her mate have been successful this year. Our native persimmon trees are great for planting in wild areas or place where you want to attract wildlife. A possum has been spotted more than once shimmying down this tree in the wee hours of morning.

The numerous fruits aren't particularly large or fleshy, but they are costless and have a good flavor.

The ground is already thick with fruits, but the tree has more still to drop.

Persistent fruits of our prolific Diospyros virginiana

Tree of the Week: Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana)

Persimmon fruits are ripening this time of year in northwest Louisiana. These are orange, round fruits that should only be eaten when perfectly ripe. Any attempt to eat an unripe persimmon fruit will have bad results: a bitter, chalky, astringent taste will pervade your entire mouth. You know these fruits are ripe when the orange flesh is soft and wrinkly. Such wrinkled fruits are mostly found on the ground, and they taste like candy. Look around and you'll find one.

There are two persimmon trees in the arboretum, planted next to each other. Read more about the pair here.

The female persimmon tree is loaded with fruits. This is a very tall tree with most of its fruits out of reach. Low hanging fruits can be found, but unripe fruits are difficult to strip off the branch without damaging the tree: you will need to snip unripe fruits off the branch and give them plenty of time to ripen.

This unripe fruit is turning orange.

These orange fruits are still ripening. They are firm to the touch and securely attached to the branch. They might look tasty, but they aren't.

These fruits, found in the leaf litter, are ready to eat. Another indicator of ripeness is the ease with which the fruit detaches from its four-lobed cap.

The flesh is very sweet and has a distinct taste. Unfortunately, the seeds are large and numerous, making it impossible to remain elegant while enjoying the fruit. Even-numbered amounts of seeds were encountered from the arboretum's fruit, six or eight per fruit.

The seeds are dark brown, glossy, oval-shaped and measure more than a half inch in length.

Autumn Landscapes

On the west side of Hamilton Hall, looking into the arboretum

North side of the arboretum

The trees still have their leaves: dappled sunlight on a sunny day.

Western edge of the arboretum: this is the sidewalk that runs between the Student Union Building and Cline Hall.

Persimmons (Diospyros virginiana) are ready to eat. Go for the wrinkled ones. 

The sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua) has been the stand-out fall foliage specimen.

The silverbell (Halesia diptera) is one of the few trees showing its fall colors.

Bright orange leaves of Halesia diptera

Summer Update

Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) has been flowering for a couple of months now. The water droplets in the photo are courtesy of the arboretum's sprinklers. Although, over the past couple of days we have had some rain.

Fruits of the persimmon tree (Diospyros virginiana) blend in with the leaves. They aren't ripe yet, but getting bigger.

The red buckeyes (Aesculus pavia) still have most of their leaves and their fruits are conspicuous.

The big-leaf snowbells (Styrax grandifolia) are covered in little fruits.

There is only one, but very large, nut on the little pignut hickory (Carya glabra).

Mexican plum (Prunus mexicana) fruits are ripening on the branch. Much of the fruit has dropped to the ground early.

Louisiana catchfly (Silene subciliata) flowers are a brilliant red. There are several nice patches scattered throughout the arboretum.

We're waiting on Magnolia grandiflora to reveal its bright red seeds.

Cones are hanging from the branches of the spruce pine (Pinus glabra).

The stunning fruits of the French mulberry (Callicarpa americana) bushes are typically a sign of the end of summer, transitioning to fall. There are approximately 10 significant bushes throughout the arboretum, with only one or two bushes showing off their ripening berries.

Tree of the Week: Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana)

Our shade tree of the week is the persimmon (Diospyros virginiana). Enough can't be said about the pair of persimmons in the arboretum collection. They are doing outstanding work, providing much needed shade along one of the main sidewalks running parallel to Hamilton Hall. They provide habitat for birds and other interesting creatures. And this time of the year the female of the species is developing fruits to be appreciated in autumn.

Persimmons do very well in northern Louisiana. The two individuals in the arboretum were both collected from the wild. Jim Robbins collected the male tree from Cypress Lake in Bossier Parish, and it was planted in the ground in the spring of 1985. Ed Leuck collected the female tree from DeSoto Parish, at a lignite mine, and planted it in the spring of 1987. Today, the two trees appear to be in competition with each other over sunlight, with the male tree winning. The male tree is noticeably larger, and more erect, while the female leans out from under the shade of the male tree.

At noon, the pair of persimmons help to shade this long stretch of sidewalk.

The male persimmon (right) is older, bigger, and stands straight-up like the lamp post. The female (left) leans away from the male tree, toward the sun.

Persimmons have dark green leaves.

Underside of persimmon leaves: foliage blocking the sun

In July, the persimmon fruits aren't even close to being ripe. Do NOT try to eat these fruits! It would be unpleasant. Click here for a picture of ripening fruits. It's best to wait until the fruit wrinkles.

The male and female trees working in concert to block the sun.

It's summer time. The insects are loud and doing interesting things.

The newly emerged cicada clings to its old exoskeleton, which is stuck to the bark of the persimmon trunk.

Mature persimmons have heavily fissured, blocky bark.

For more pictures of the arboretum's persimmon trees click here.

For more information about this species consult the following:
Louisiana Plant Identification and Interactive Virtual Tours (LSU AgCenter)
University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment
United States Department of Agriculture

Diospyros virginiana