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)
Pollination
Usually needs male tree nearby (some cultivars are self-fertile)
Results
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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.
Plan Your Orchard
Log pruning, spraying, and harvests. See what you did last season. All your trees in one place.
Start Tracking Free →Chill hour data from Open-Meteo Historical Weather API. Variety information compiled from university extension services.