Persimmon Diospyros kaki

Persimmons are native to Japan and China . Orange colored fruit ripens in fall and persists on the tree unless picked. There are two types of fruit astringent and non-astringent. Astringent fruit needs to be picked when hard then left out to ripen. If you try to eat it straight off of the tree it is barely palatable. This process can be sped up by freezing the fruit for a day then thawing-out and eating. Non-astringent fruit can be eaten straight off of the tree while still hard, but their sweetness much improves when left out a few days. Fruits of some of the selections have different characteristics when pollinated as opposed to when they are not. Detailed descriptions of every variety grown by Orange County Nursery can be found below.

'Chocolate' ('Tsurunoko') - This persimmon is pollination constant and non-astringent. They are medium sized, conical in shape. The fruit has bright orange skin. Well pollinated flesh is seeded and dark brown. When not pollinated, the flesh is seedless and yellow in color and astringent. Chocolate brown flesh is juicy and flavorful. This self-fertile selection ripens in late October to November. Fruit grows in clusters of 3-4 fruits. Tree needs approximately 200 chilling hours.

'Fuyu' ('Fuyugaki','Jiro') - Fuyus are pollination constant and non-astringent. They are oblate and flat. They have medium to large fruit. The skin color is deep orange to orange-red with four (4) shallow incised lines appearing on the sides. Flesh is light orange. Texture crisp to tender and juicy depending upon maturity. Originated in Shizuoka province, Japan about 1844. Introduced in the United States before 1918. Already being called ‘Fuyu’ by the 1920s. The leading variety in California and one of the principal varieties grown in Japan. Needs approximately 200 hours of chilling.

'Giant Fuyu' ('Gosho') - Giant Fuyus are pollination constant and non-astringent.They have large to very large fruit. Reddish orange skin is deeper in color than a Fuyu. The flesh is good quality and very sweet. Tree tends to be an alternate bearer if fruit is left on tree too long in previous year. This self-fertile selection ripens in October to November. Tree needs approximately 200 hours of chilling.

'Hachiya' - Hachiyas are pollination constant and astringent. The fruit is large, oblong and acorn in shape with a glossy orange colored skin. Flesh is dark yellow, rich and very sweet once it is allowed to ripen. This fruit is most popular for baking and makes a handsome ornamental specimen. This self fertile selection ripens in November. Tree needs approximately 200 chilling hours.

'Hiyakume' ('Ama Hiakume') - This persimmon is pollination variant and non-astringent. They have medium to large, roundish fruit with skin that is buff-yellow to orange and often has fine russet lines around the apex. When seeded, the flesh is a dark cinnamon color and considered the best in flavor. Unseeded they are yellow fleshed and astringent unless treated or allowed to ripen. Ripens mid-season. Needs pollinator and approximately 200 chill hours.

'Izu' - The Izu persimmon is pollination constant and non-astringent. They have medium sized fruit with a deep orange color. The fine textured flesh is very soft and juicy and has been noted to have the best flavor of all selections. This self-fertile variety ripens from late September to early October and is earlier than most non-astringent varieties. Tree needs approximately 200 chill hours.

'Maru' - The Maru persimmon is pollination variant and non-astringent. An excellent pollinator with medium sized fruit and bright orange-red skin. The flesh is dark cinnamon when seeded, sweet and rich. Unseeded fruits are yellow fleshed and astringent unless treated. Needs pollinator and approximately 200 chill hours.

'Matsumoto Wase'- Matsumoto Wase is pollination constant and non-astringent. They have medium sized fruit and are slightly rounded with reddish-orange skin. Flesh is yellow in color with sweet taste. This self-fertile selection ripens in early October, two weeks earlier than the California Fuyu. Tree needs approximately 200 chill hours.

'Meakawa Jiro' - This persimmon is pollination constant and non-astringent. They have medium to Large fruit and deep orange color. Flesh is orange with good flavor. The tree is self-fertile but where reliable production is desired a pollinizer must be used. This selection ripens in September to October. Tree needs approximately 200 chill hours.

'Nishimura Wase' - This persimmon is pollination variant and non-astringent. They have medium size fruit and are bright orange in color. They are slightly conical in shape. The flesh is orange in color with a very deep, sweet taste. Use ‘Fuyu’ as a pollinator. Ripens in early October . Tree needs approximately 200 chill hours.

'Suruga' - Surugas are pollination constant and non-astringent. They have medium sized fruit with orange colored skin. The flesh is firm, sweet and orange. Eats crunchy like an apple. Self fertile selection. Matures in late October to early November. Tree needs 200 hours of winter chill.

'Tamopan' - This persimmon is pollination constant and astringent. They have large to very large fruit and acorn shaped fruit with an expanded base. It has light orange skin and light orange flesh with sweet and rich flavor. This self-fertile selection ripens in late October to early November. Foliage of this tree has the best fall color of any Diospyros cultivar. Tree needs approximately 200 chill hours.

'Tanenashi' - This persimmon is pollination constant and astringent. It has medium to large conical fruit and a slightly rounded apex with light orange colored skin. The flesh is yellow and very sweet when ripe. Ripens October. The tree needs approximately 200 chill hours and a pollinator.