Persimmon trees hold onto their glowing orange fruit well after the leaves drop each fall, turning a bare branch into a striking, almost ornamental display against the autumn sky.
American persimmon is native and cold-hardy, while the Asian varieties sold in grocery stores need a milder climate — and knowing which type you're growing matters, since American persimmon fruit is famously astringent and inedible until fully soft-ripe.
Persimmon trees want full sun and well-draining soil, and American types tolerate cold much better than Asian varieties, hardy to zone 4. Choosing a self-pollinating variety simplifies planting for gardeners who only have room for a single tree.
Astringent persimmon varieties must be left to ripen until very soft — almost jelly-like — before eating; picked too early, they're intensely puckering from natural tannins.
