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.
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| 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." |
