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.
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| At noon, the pair of persimmons help to shade this long stretch of sidewalk. |
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| 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. |
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| Persimmons have dark green leaves. |
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| Underside of persimmon leaves: foliage blocking the sun |
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| 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. |
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| The male and female trees working in concert to block the sun. |
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| It's summer time. The insects are loud and doing interesting things. |
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| The newly emerged cicada clings to its old exoskeleton, which is stuck to the bark of the persimmon trunk. |
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| 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
