Types of Persimmons: 17 Popular Persimmon Varieties

The persimmon is an edible fruit from the Diospyros genus. Persimmons have shiny, taut skin that ranges from marigold yellow to deep orange in color, and soft, jammy (or starchy) interiors, with or without seeds. While originally native to China, early persimmon trees were also cultivated in Japan and arrived in North America and Southern Europe sometime in the 1800s. The Algonquian tribes of the eastern United States gave persimmons its modern-day name. “Persimmon” is derived from the Powhatan words “putchamin,” “pasiminan,” or “pessamin,” meaning “dry fruit.”

Consider seventeen of the most common persimmon varieties:

1. 1. Fuyu persimmon: Fuyus are a Japanese persimmon variety and one of the most common Asian persimmons in grocery stores and farmers' markets throughout the US. They are a seedless, non-astringent variety. The bright orange color of fuyu persimmon skin matches the orange fruit inside. They have a round, squat shape akin to a miniature pumpkin. As a non-astringent variety, ripe fuyus can be eaten right off the tree.
2. 2. Hachiya persimmon: Hachiya is a Japanese persimmon. It is one of the most widely cultivated varieties of persimmon. Hachiyas are the dominant species of persimmon grown in California. They have an acorn-like shape and bright orange skin. They are an astringent variety and need lots of time to ripen before eating. Ripe hachiya persimmons are peeled and hung up to dry to make the popular Japanese treat hoshigaki.
3. 3. Maru persimmon: Maru persimmons are also known as chocolate persimmons due to their luscious, brown interior. Though they may not taste like chocolate, their juicy ripe fruit is just as decadent. Maru persimmons are pollination-variant astringent types of persimmons that ripen late in the fall harvest season.
4. 4. Izu persimmon: Izu persimmons have a round, slightly-flattened shape and apricot-colored skin. They are a pollination-constant, non-astringent persimmon. They have a sweet, honey-like flavor.
5. 5. Louts persimmon: The lotus persimmon is native to southwest Asia and southern Europe, and it also goes by the name “date-plum,” due to its taste.
6. 6. Jiro persimmon: The jiro persimmon is a non-astringent type that is ready for harvest mid-season. Young jiro trees have an erratic yield, but more consistent fruiting develops as the tree matures. The fruits are prone to cracking in extreme heat, so it's best to grow jiros in moderate climates.
7. 7. Tanenashi persimmon: Tanenashi persimmons are an astringent, seedless variety. In fact, tanenashi translates to "seedless." Tanenashi persimmons are a common variety in the southeastern US. They have an acorn shape, light yellow to orange skin, and dark orange flesh.
8. 8. Triumph persimmon: Triumph persimmons are an American variety and a popular cultivar in Israel. In the US, they’re mostly grown in Florida. Triumph persimmons are a seedless, astringent variety. Unripe Triumphs have the texture of a crunchy apple and can be eaten directly off the tree.
9. 9. Hyakume persimmon: Also known as brown sugar persimmons, this variety is a non-astringent cultivar with an oblong shape, similar to that of a Roma tomato.
10. 10. Gosho persimmon: Also known as giant fuyus, gosho persimmons are large, heavy fruits that look like a bigger version of fuyu persimmons. They are a tannin-free variety and have a flavor reminiscent of a date or apricot.
11. 11. Saijo persimmon: Saijo persimmons have an incredibly sweet, honey-like flavor. They are a seedless variety with bright orange skin and an oblong shape.
12. 12. Sheng persimmon: Sheng persimmons have a flat shape and resemble an heirloom tomato. They have lobed sections that tuck in around the calyx. Their flavor is sweet with notes of clove and cinnamon.
13. 13. Tamopan persimmon: Tamopan trees are large growers, reaching mature heights of up to thirty feet tall. Tamopan persimmons have a nearly square shape with a crease in the middle that wraps all the way around the fruit.
14. 14. Suruga persimmon: Suruga persimmons have a spicy-sweet flavor. They are medium-to-large fruits with orange-red skin. They are one of the sweetest persimmons among non-astringent types.
15. 15. Great wall persimmon: Plant geographer J. Russel Smith found this persimmon variety growing near the Great Wall of China in the 1920s and brought it back with him to the United States. Growers grafted it onto American persimmon rootstock to make it cold-hardy.
16. 16. American persimmon: The American persimmon is usually cultivated in the eastern United States. American persimmons are richer and smaller in size than Asian persimmons.
17. 17. Texas persimmon: Texas persimmons grow in Texas, Oklahoma, and parts of Mexico. They're one of the more unique persimmon fruit trees. Unripe Texas persimmons are green, turning black when they ripen. Their sweet ripe fruits are the size of berries.

When selecting a persimmon, look for a fruit that has deep orange-red, glossy, blemish-free skin. Ripe persimmons have a unique flavor that lies somewhere between an apricot, a date, and a sweet tomato. Persimmons take on a more honeyed character as the fruit ripens. The sensation of biting into an unripe persimmon is an unpleasant one. The fruit’s astringency is due to high levels of tannins, which mellows out as the persimmon ripens or cooks. To speed up the ripening process, place unripe persimmons in a brown paper bag. The bag will trap emissions of ethylene gas, which speeds up ripening and helps rid persimmons of the puckering bitterness of unripe fruits.

There are a few key factors to consider when picking out a persimmon tree for your garden.

1. 1. Hardiness zone: If you're looking to plant a persimmon tree in your garden, be sure to choose a sapling that can grow in your USDA hardiness zone. American persimmon trees are bred to tolerate colder weather and can be grown in zones four to ten. Asian persimmons, such as fuyu and hachiya, can be grown in zones seven to ten.
2. 2. Spatial requirements: Not all persimmon varieties grow the same. Some are short and compact, others are sprawling and very tall. Asian persimmons tend to reach a mature size of ten to fifteen feet tall and wide, whereas American persimmons can grow to be between thirty and fifty feet tall and wide. Learn the specifics of the variety you want to plant and ensure your garden can accommodate its mature size.
3. 3. Growing conditions: Persimmon trees need to be planted in slightly acidic soil that has good drainage. They prefer sunny areas where they can get between six to eight hours of full sun a day. They will require weekly watering during periods of drought or when fruit production slows.

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