Plotwright
Home
›
Catalog
›
American persimmon
Habit (mature) · Judy Gallagher / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0
Limited coverage
American persimmon
Diospyros virginiana
A tough, medium-sized native tree of the eastern and midwestern United States, grown as much for its showy edible orange fruit as for its distinctive thick, dark gray bark broken into rectangular blocks. Small urn-shaped white-to-greenish-yellow flowers open in May and June, and the sweet fruit ripens after frost. Largely dioecious — a female tree needs a male pollinizer nearby to set fruit — and notably drought- and walnut-tolerant once established.
Native: 30 US states
Review: Source-backed
Climate fit: broad (83/100)
Focal point
Structure
Edible
Pollinator
Light
Full sun / Part sun / Part shade
Water
Moderate water
Mature size
420-720" tall · 360" apart
Hardy in zones
4a-9b
very cold to frosty winters
Summer heat range
Mild-Extreme
mild to extreme summers Interim Plotwright tier until the plant AHS range is authored.
Native in Illinois
Yes
Related products
Sponsored
Winter protection and storage
Frost cloth, plant covers, bulb/tuber storage supplies, burlap, and cold frames.
Search winter protection and storage on Amazon →
Watering and irrigation
Watering cans, soaker hoses, drip kits, moisture meters, and timers.
Search watering and irrigation on Amazon →
Transplanting and establishment
Trowels, transplant spades, starter fertilizer, root stimulators, and watering bags.
Search transplanting and establishment on Amazon →
Container growing
Grow bags, planters, potting mix, saucers, casters, and container irrigation.
Search container growing on Amazon →
Drainage and aeration
Perlite, pumice, raised-bed mix, aerators, and drainage-focused containers.
Search drainage and aeration on Amazon →
Fertility and feeding
Compost, balanced fertilizer, slow-release plant food, and organic amendments.
Search fertility and feeding on Amazon →
Plotwright may earn a commission from purchases made through these links, at no extra cost to you.
A documented larval host for the Luna moth and 1 other species — caterpillars feed on its foliage before becoming the next generation.
Wildlife relationships
Cold hardiness
Now
Zone 6b
USDA
Chicago, IL · 1991-2020 average annual coldest day
Source: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (1991-2020 climatology) via ArcGIS FeatureServer
Well-suited
2050
Zone 7b
Plotwright
Your zone + climate-model shift · SSP3-7.0 (regional rivalry)
Well-suited
In plain terms: cold winters — coldest nights typically around -3°F.
✓
Well-suited today and still thriving in 2050.
Heat tolerance
Loading current AHS heat-zone and plant heat-fit data at your coordinates…
Where this plant fits
Suitable across 41 ecoregions — 40 climate-resilient through 2070 · 1 suited today. Best matches first.
Appalachian mixed mesophytic forests
›
Appalachian-Blue Ridge forests
›
Arizona Mountains forests
›
Atlantic coastal pine barrens
›
Blue Mountains forests
›
Canadian Aspen forests and parklands
›
Central Pacific Northwest coastal forests
›
Central Tallgrass prairie
›
Central-Southern Cascades Forests
›
Chilean Matorral
›
Sources & citations
Cite this page
For lesson plans, articles, or research that uses this page. To cite a single upstream fact instead, use its specific source listed below.
Plotwright. (2026, May 17). American persimmon (Diospyros virginiana). Retrieved 2026, June 5, from https://plotwright.garden/plants/american-persimmon
Sources for every fact
Every fact on this page traces to a source. 18 fields cited — 18 source-backed.
Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder
Botanical research database
Backs 17 fields
Identity
Summary
Plant type
Light
Moisture
Hardiness
Heat zone
Size
Spacing
Habit
Design roles
Seasonal interest
Growth stages
Lifecycle
Regional guidance
Success tips
Designer notes
Wikimedia Commons
Photo · CC BY 2.0
Backs 1 field
Image
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Native Plant Database
Botanical research database
Community photos
The photos above are our reviewed reference set, curated for accuracy.
Plotwright
Climate-aware plant planning — every plant checked against your zone now and in 2050.
support@arteractive.co
Explore
Catalog
Collections
Regions
Wildlife
Futures
Designer
Timeline
Tips
Reference
Sources
Data & methods
For educators
Policies
Privacy
Cookies
Usage & terms
© 2026 Plotwright