Persimmon: the best varieties

The persimmon tree, Japanese persimmon – Diospyros kaki 'Fuyu'

Diospyros kaki ‘Fuyu’ – Persimmon tree – Apple persimmon is a productive fruit tree, producing, from late October to November, orange, apple-sized, seedless fruits with sweet flesh rich in vitamin C. Its fruit has the peculiarity of being non-astringent and can be eaten firm, as soon as it’s harvested. This tree can reach 7 metres in height and 5 metres in width at maturity. In addition to being productive and bearing delicious fruit, it is ornamental. From May to June, it bears cream-white flowers. Its medium-green foliage turns very vivid red hues in autumn, before finally shedding. It can be planted in autumn or spring, in a very sunny spot sheltered from winds, in well-drained, rich soil. It is hardy down to -15 °C.

The persimmon, kaki - Diospyros kaki 'Cioccolatino'

The persimmon tree, Diospyros kaki ‘Cioccolatino‘, is a highly productive variety, producing medium-sized, round fruits of a yellow-orange colour. They contain orange-bronze pulp that is not astringent. They can be eaten from harvest, i.e., from late October to December. They are crisp at that stage, like apples. It is also possible to eat them when they are over-ripe, i.e., with a soft and very sweet flesh. This tree grows to about 4.5 m tall by 3.5 m wide, flowering in May and June, producing flowers that are yellow to pale green. The foliage is dark green with autumn colours. It is deciduous. Hardy to -15°C, this kaki, however, needs a long, warm and sunny summer. Its cultivation is focused in the southern half of France. Plant it in autumn or spring and provide regular watering. Give it a warm, sunny spot, sheltered from the wind, as well as deep, rich, well-drained soil that tends to be acidic.

Persimmon tree, Diospyros kaki 'Brilliant Red'

The Persimmon tree, kaki – Diospyros kaki ‘Brilliant Red’ – Persimon is a very productive and vigorous variety. It is the one that yields the famous Persimon persimmon found in shops. From December to February, it bears large-fruited, elongated, slightly ribbed fruits, turning from yellow to dark red. They weigh about 270 grams. They are excellent when bletted, as they redden to red, because the flesh then becomes liquid, very sweet and vanilla-flavoured, evoking a compote. This seven-metre-tall by five-metre-wide tree features yellow-to-light-green flowering in May. Its dark green deciduous foliage displays vibrant autumn colours.
Its cultivation is best suited to southern France. Hardy to -15 °C, it needs warmth and sun to produce ripe fruit. Plant it in autumn or spring, in a very sunny and sheltered spot, in well-drained, rich soil, preferably acidic. Water it regularly at planting time.

Persimmon tree, kaki – Diospyros kaki 'Korea'

The Persimmon tree- Diospyros kaki ‘Korea’ bears fruits with a very sweet flavour, from October to December. The fruits are of medium size, 6–8 cm in diameter. They can weigh 90–130 g and are slightly flattened and ribbed. Their skin becomes orange and then turns red when they are over-ripe. The flesh is red-orange, meltingly tender, juicy, slightly fibrous, very fragrant and not acidic. It can contain numerous small reddish seeds. This kaki has an ornamental habit of 5 metres tall by 4 metres wide. In autumn, its foliage changes from bright green to red and orange-yellow. This variety tolerates frost down to -20°C. It can be grown in all regions of France, but it prefers a sunny, wind-sheltered exposure. It is planted in autumn or spring, in neutral to slightly acidic soil, rich, deep and well-drained.

Persimmon, kaki - Diospyros 'Nikita’s Gift'

The Persimmon tree- Diospyros ‘Nikita’s Gift’ bears fruits of excellent eating quality. This vigorous and highly productive hybrid variety bears fruit from October to December. They stand out from other kakis for their subtle flavours of apricot, pear, vanilla, rum and caramel. This delicious fruit is best eaten when it is over-ripe, as this reduces its astringency. This five-metre-tall by four-metre-wide tree flowers in May and June, producing pale yellow to cream-coloured flowers. It is highly ornamental with its dark green foliage that turns in autumn to yellow-orange to red hues. It can be planted in autumn or winter, outside frost periods. It is very frost-tolerant down to -25 °C. Little affected by diseases and drought-tolerant, it is almost maintenance-free.

Further reading

Other persimmon varieties yield delicious fruit, such as Persimmon ‘Muscat’ – Chinese persimmon tree or Diospyros kaki ‘Ragno’ persimmon tree.

To learn more about growing persimmons, consult our guide to planting and maintenance of persimmons and our articles: Why isn’t my persimmon tree bearing fruit? and Persimmon: how to choose the right variety?