Persimmon (Diospyros kaki): how to choose the right variety?
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A persimmon tree with bare yet pliant branches beneath the yellow-orange fruit is always a striking sight in the depth of winter. Especially if snow covers everything with its white cloak. The persimmon tree (Diospyros kaki) is a deciduous-leaved fruit tree of Asian origin, a cousin of ebony. Besides its very hard wood, the persimmon tree is mainly grown for its fruit. This tree indeed produces these famous persimmons, fruits rich in minerals, trace elements, fibre and vitamins, most often astringent. Once over-ripe, they become soft and sweet. The persimmons are harvested in autumn and winter, from November to February depending on the variety.
In addition to their fruit production, persimmon trees are interesting for their very decorative appearance and vigour. Tall at 6–10 m, these trees take on magnificent blazing colours in autumn. They are mainly fruit trees that are not particular about soil type or quality, drought-tolerant, and relatively resistant to diseases. In short, an ideal compromise between a handsome ornamental tree and a fruit tree that bears fruit at a time when there is little.
Nevertheless, there are many persimmon varieties that differ in the astringency of their fruits, their precocity, their size at maturity, their mode of pollination… I offer a selection of persimmon trees according to different selection criteria.
Depending on the flavour of persimmons
The first criterion for choosing a persimmon tree is the type of persimmons. Indeed, there are two kinds of persimmons, astringent and non-astringent. For those who don’t know, an astringent fruit is a fruit high in tannins that, when tasted and mixed with saliva, causes a contraction of the mucous membranes and lips. To summarise, an astringent fruit is very unpleasant in the mouth if harvested too early. And I’m not mincing my words! For all that, it is by no means toxic. Wait until it is over-ripe to eat it, often after the first frosts. From then on, its flavour is sweet and sugary.
So back to our topic, namely persimmons. Most of these winter fruits, whose colours range from yellow to orange to red, are astringent. Their harvest therefore takes place in winter, once the cold has done its work. It is also possible to harvest them earlier and let them ripen indoors, wrapped in newspaper, with the peduncle pointing down.
Some persimmon trees bear non-astringent fruits that are eaten hard and firm, directly after harvest. We bite into the flesh as we would with an apple. Hence their vernacular name of ‘apple persimmon’. Nevertheless, they can remain on the tree and be eaten when over-ripe.
Among apple persimmons, one variety has universal acclaim: Diospyros kaki ‘Fuyu’. It is a self-fertile variety of Japanese origin, particularly productive, bearing fruits ripe from late October to early November (crunchy) or soft (in December). The round persimmons, slightly flattened on the faces, weigh over 200 g. Their flesh turns deep red when ripe in warm weather, with a sweet and fragrant flavour.
There is another persimmon variety with non-astringent fruits, the old Italian variety ‘Cioccolatino’. Its persimmons, yellow-orange in colour with bronze-orange flesh, can be eaten from October, not yet over-ripe. This tree has a medium growth habit (about 4.5 m in height with a 3 m spread), making it suitable for a modest garden. This self-fertile variety is best suited to the southern half of France. It is also a pollinating variety for other non-self-fertile persimmon varieties.
According to pollination method
Some persimmon trees are dioecious, while others are parthenocarpic. What does that mean? And more importantly, why is it useful to know when planting a persimmon tree?
A persimmon tree is dioecious, so there are male and female specimens. To tell them apart, simply look at the flowers. Female flowers are generally larger, solitary, cream-coloured, between white and yellow. Male flowers, smaller, are grouped in a cut flower arrangement. They are cream-yellow with a greenish tinge. Pollination by insect pollinators is necessary for the female flowers to be pollinated and to bear fruit. Consequently, it is advised to have two different varieties planted close to each other to encourage pollination.
However, some dioecious varieties produce fruit by parthenocarpy. These parthenocarpic varieties are self-fertile, meaning that the female flowers produce persimmons even without fertilisation. However, the fruits are seedless. Thus, you can obtain fruit from a single persimmon tree.
Among self-fertile persimmon trees, one can cite the ‘Fuyu’ apple kaki already mentioned, but also the variety ‘Costata‘ which produces orange fruits that are slightly ribbed and seedless, about the size of a tomato. This variety can be grown north of the Loire in a spot well sheltered from cold winds and sunny. A south-facing exposure along a wall suits it well.
We can also highlight the Virginia persimmon Diospyros virginiana ‘SSA Pieper’ with orange round fruits. This vigorous variety prefers a warm climate. Much like the Chinese persimmon ‘Muscat’, which yields fruits 8 to 10 cm in diameter, with a thin, orange skin and a soft, sweet, mellow flesh. The fruits of this variety are seedless.
According to its development
The persimmon forms a handsome tree that can reach 6 to 10 m in height. Some specimens can grow up to 12 m tall. Their deciduous, dark green and leathery foliage, glossy on the upper surface and slightly downy underneath, takes on beautiful red colours in autumn. That is why it can be regarded as an ornamental tree with a spreading habit. Moreover, its flowering, which occurs in early summer, generally between June and July, is quite attractive. It is also nectariferous and attracts swarms of insects. But a large garden is required to accommodate this tree.
Other species have a more compact growth habit that allows them to be grown in smaller gardens. Thus, the persimmon Ragno will not exceed 2–3 m in height with a spread of 1.5–2 m. Originating from Italy, this persimmon benefits from a relatively slow growth rate, but a long lifespan of at least 100 years. Thanks to its compact and spreading habit, it can be grown as a standard (on a tall stem) or as a bush (on a short stem).
As for the persimmon Sharon, it has a medium growth habit as it will hardly exceed 5 m in height and 4 m in width. Moreover, this variety is self-fertile.
Read also
Hoshigaki or dried persimmonBased on flavour quality
Undeniably, when discussing kakis with excellent flavour, you can’t overlook the Rojo Brillante persimmon tree or Persimon®. That is, indeed, the variety whose fruits are the most widely sold across Europe. This persimmon tree indeed produces large kakis that are highly attractive in their slightly ribbed conical shape, which range from yellow to deep red. They are especially renowned for their juicy, almost liquid pulp, very sweet and enhanced by a hint of vanilla. These persimmons also keep exceptionally well and can be dried or sliced. Harvest takes place late in December. This variety is grown mainly in the south of France.
According to its hardiness
Some persimmon trees are considerably hardier than others. Among the hardier ones, the following can be cited:
- The persimmon tree ‘Nikita’s Gift’ which withstands temperatures down to -25°C. It is an astringent-type persimmon with fruits that are rather small, but very fragrant at maturity. They carry aromas of apricot, pear, vanilla, rum and caramel. The persimmons are harvested from mid-October. It is also very decorative with foliage that turns very red in autumn. Fruiting is rapid, and the variety is very productive.
- The persimmon tree ‘Tipo’ forms a very vigorous, productive and regular tree, particularly hardy. Its persimmons are spherical, yellow at harvest and then become dark orange with bletting. Although classified among the astringent varieties, ‘Tipo’ offers fruits that can be eaten when firm.
- The persimmon tree ‘Lotus’ : female plants produce small orange, oval persimmons that are not very sweet and very astringent. They are eaten when bletted. Slow-growing, this European persimmon reaches 10–12 m. It tolerates down to -20°C without any problem.
The persimmon ‘Lotus’
- The persimmon tree ‘Korea’ is also hardy down to -20°C. It is a self-fertile, vigorous and productive variety. Its red-orange persimmons are very sweet.
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