| Speci |
common persimmon Diospyros
virginiana |
| Species Name |
of Virginia |
| Sites and Soils |
Persimmon occurs from bottomlands to dry ridges, but is most common in
oldfields and bottoms. |
| Ecology |
Persimmon occurs on a very wide variety of sites. It is shade tolerant but
does not become established in late-successional forests. It may form pure
stands in oldfields, but is more common as scattered trees or clumps mixed with
a wide variety of hardwood. Best development is on river terraces, or
well-drained alluvial bottoms. |
| Life History |
Persimmon flowers in late spring, and fruits ripen in late fall, around the
time of first frost. Fruits are eaten by a wide variety of birds and mammals,
which disperse seeds. Seeds germinate the following spring, or enter the seed
bank and germinate in subsequent years. Persimmon is a prolific stump and root
sprouting species, and thickets may be partially or entirely clonal. Persimmon
is a fast growing species on alluvial bottoms, but very slow on upland
oldfields. It probably lives for no more than 200 years. Typical large trees on
bottoms are 50'x1' (Champion 131'x2.1'), but trees on upland sites rarely exceed
30'x6". |
| Interactions |
Persimmons are important wildlife species, both for their fruit and as
browse. Probably VA mycorrhizal. Pollinators are unknown insects. |
| Status |
Common, stable |
| Range |
Southern 1/2 of Eastern Deciduous Forest |
| Kentucky status |
Common, stable |
| Kentucky range |
Entire state |
| Uses |
Persimmon is in the ebony family, and has the hard, black heartwood
characteristic of the family. Its most important use is for golf club heads. It
is occasionally used for furniture or veneer, but trees of adequate volume are
uncommon. |
| Ornamental use |
A lovely ornamental, provided that the landowner is willing to tolerate the
rather messy fruits. The beautiful black, blocky bark makes persimmon worth the
work of transplanting, which is made difficult by the deep taproot. |
| Notes |
|
