Persimmon
Diospyros kaki · Ebenaceae
📷 Sphl · CC BY-SA 3.0
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around persimmon and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Flowering
- October to November
- Adult size
- Up to 6 m in height
- Growth
- Moderate
- Hardiness
- Down to -15 °C depending on varieties
- Origin
- China and Japan
- Soil type
- Well-drained, fertile, slightly acidic to neutral
- Edibility
- Edible fruits
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability high.
Expert tips
The key tip
Japanese medlar (kaki persimmon) hates humid summers that promote fungal diseases. Space out watering in July-August even if the leaves look dry.
The common mistake
Watering kaki regularly in July-August like you would other fruit trees: it rots at the collar and in internal branches, symptoms only appearing in early November.
The pro's trick
Let the soil dry out significantly between summer waterings.
Care
Exposure
The persimmon appreciates a full sun exposure to produce sweet and flavorful fruits. It tolerates partial shade but fruiting will be less abundant. Install it sheltered from cold winds, particularly in northern regions.
Watering
Water regularly when establishing and during growth, particularly in case of summer drought. Once well established, watering becomes moderate. Reduce watering in autumn and winter to encourage dormancy and sugar accumulation in the fruits.
Soil
The persimmon prefers fertile, well-drained soil and slightly acidic to neutral. It tolerates ordinary soils but fears root asphyxiation. Enrich the soil with compost or well-decomposed manure at planting.
Fertilizing
Apply balanced fertilizer in spring at budbreak. During the fruiting period, a potassium-rich fertilizer helps improve fruit quality and flavor. Avoid excess nitrogen which would stimulate foliage at the expense of fruits.
Pruning and training
Prune in late winter or early spring (February-March) to maintain balanced form and aerate the canopy. Remove dead, crossing or weak branches. Light pruning is generally sufficient as the tree fruits on one-year-old wood.
Diseases and pests
The persimmon is generally hardy but can be affected by powdery mildew in humid conditions or by scale insects. Monitor excessive humidity to prevent fungi. Good spacing and canopy aeration limit health problems.
Did you know?
The persimmon originates from China and has been cultivated in Japan for over a thousand years, where it is revered for its golden fruits symbolizing abundance. Its Japanese name "kaki" literally means "fruit of trees," and the 'Fuyu' variety, very popular in the West, revolutionized the commercial cultivation of this fruit by allowing easier harvesting and storage.
Where to buy it
Best planted in autumn so the roots settle in before summer, or in early spring once the frost has passed. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, October, November.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Date plumDiospyros lotus
- American persimmonDiospyros virginiana
- Texas persimmonDiospyros texana
- Ebony diospyrosDiospyros mespiliformis
- CamelliaCamellia japonica
- Pedunculate oakQuercus robur
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.