Asian Persimmon: Diospyros kaki
varieties in this section generally share these traits (unless stated otherwise)
Asian persimmons are self-fertile and produce seedless fruit in the absence of a pollination partner (parthenocarpy). Persimmon Sudden Death Syndrome is the only significant problem that faces Asian persimmons in the United States. It is believed to only effect Asian persimmons that are grafted to American persimmon rootstock. More details can be found in the "Read More" section.
Chinebuli
Acquired in Bulgaria, but may have originated in China or Korea like 'Korea Kaki'.
Zone
• 6a
Ripens
🍊
• mid?
Fruit
• non-astringent
Chocolate
Zone
• 7
Ripens
🍊
• mid-late?
Fruit
• PVNA
Chocolate is a pollination-variant non-astringent cultivar (PVNA) that produces male and female flowers (monoecious).
Coffee Cake
Alias
• Nishimura Wase
Zone
• 7
Ripens
🍊
• early-mid
Fruit
• PVNA
Coffee Cake is a pollination-variant non-astringent cultivar (PVNA), so its flavor greatly benefits from pollination.
Early Fuyu
bud mutation of Fuyu
Alias
• Matsumoto Wase Fuyu
Zone
• 7
Ripens
🍊
• mid-late? (mid)
Fruit
• non-astringent
Fire Crystal
Originated in Central China near the city of Xian.
Alias
• Lintong Huo Jing
Zone
• 7
Growth
• dwarf
Fruit
• astringent
Fuyu
Zone
• 7
Ripens
🍊
• late
Fruit
• non-astringent
Fuyu and Jiro are supposed to be different varieties, but Jiro, along with many other varieties, were originally marketed as Fuyu.
The chill sensitivity of Fuyu persimmons may vary by region or year (storage details can be found in the "Read More" section).
Giombo
Zone
• 7a
Ripens
🍊
• mid? ◦ 2 weeks after Saijo in FL
Fruit
• 4 to 5", astringent
Gwang Yang
Originated in Gwangyang, South Korea.
Zone
• 6b
Ripens
🍊
• mid?
Growth
• dwarf
Fruit
• non-astringent
Hachiya
Zone
• 7
Ripens
🍊
• late
Fruit
• 4", astringent
Hachiya is a common commercial variety. It is said to be chill tolerant (storage details can be found in the "Read More" section).
Hana Fuyu
Alias
• Giant Fuyu, Yotsundani
Zone
• 7a
Ripens
🍊
• mid?
Growth
• dwarf
Fruit
• non-astringent, larger than Fuyu
Hana Fuyu may be able to produce male flowers.
Out of the seven varieties that were tested (as far as I am aware), Hana Fuyu was the only one that consisted of more citric acid (0.23% vs 0.02% to 0.12%) than malic acid (0.14% vs 0.14% to 0.18%). It also had more total acid than the other varieties (0.45% vs 0.21% to 0.35%). I can't say this creates any noticeable difference in flavor, though.
Honan Red
Zone
• 7
Ripens
🍊
• mid?
Fruit
• astringent
Ichikikei Jiro
bud mutation of Jiro
Zone
• 7a (6b) ◦ may receive severe dieback in the lower part of zone 6b
Ripens
🍊
• mid?
Growth
• dwarf
Fruit
• non-astringent
Izu
Zone
• 6b? (7a) ◦ may receive some dieback in zone 6b
Ripens
🍊
• early-mid
Growth
• dwarf
Fruit
• non-astringent
Saijo's flavor appears to be preferred over Izu in cool summer climates.
The red color of the second image, and even the first, is likely not typical. The expected color should probably be orange around the time it first ripens. Izu is an earlier ripening variety, and the photo was supposedly taken quite late in the season.
Maekawa Jiro
bud mutation of Jiro
Zone
• 6b? (7a)
Ripens
🍊
• early-mid? (mid) ◦ ~1 week before Ichikikei Jiro
Fruit
• non-astringent
Miss Kim
Originated in Korea.
Zone
• 6a
Ripens
🍊
• early-mid
Growth
• dwarf
Fruit
• astringent
Saijo
Zone
• 6b
Ripens
🍊
• early-mid
Fruit
• astringent
Saijo is mentioned by quite a few nurseries for being hardy down to -10F (zone 6a), but due to the reports I have seen, I am under the impression that this is something you shouldn't take too seriously. It is best grown in zone 6b or higher.
Saijo is often said to be noticeably sweeter than most other asian persimmons, but this might be outdated now that reports on newer varieties have started to come out.
Sheng
Zone
• 6a? (6b)
Ripens
🍊
• early-mid
Growth
• dwarf
Fruit
• 3 to 4", astringent
Suruga
Hanagosho x Okugosho
Zone
• 7
Ripens
🍊
• very late
Fruit
• non-astringent
Suruga is chill tolerant to temperatures around 32F/0C but sensitive to temperatures closer to 41F/5C.
Tam Kam
Originated in Korea
Zone
• 6b (6a) ◦ at least some dieback in 6a
Ripens
🍊
• mid?
Fruit
• non-astringent
Tam Kam may be able to survive zone 6a, but it will experience some dieback.
Tamopan
Zone
• 7
Ripens
🍊
• late
Fruit
• 3 to 5", astringent
Tamopan is a large, uniquely shaped persimmon that looks like a capped acorn without the pointed end. The tree can grow up to 30ft in height, which is fairly tall for an Asian persimmon variety available in the US.
Tamopan is generally not recommended due to its supposed lack of sweetness and flavor in comparison to many other Kaki persimmons.
Persimmon: hybrid
varieties in this section generally share these traits (unless stated otherwise)
Asian x American hybrid persimmons are self-fertile and produce seedless fruit in the absence of a pollination partner. While some of them are quite cold hardy, the grow season will likely be too short to ripen them in all but the hottest areas in zone 5.
Kassandra
Great Wall x Rosseyanka F2 male (Rosseyanka (D. Kaki x D. Virginiana) x D. virginiana)
Zone
• 5 (6a)
Ripens
🍊
• mid
Fruit
• 2.5 to 2.75", astringent
Kassandra's ability to tolerate the cold may greatly increase as it ages, possibly allowing it to survive zone 5a temperatures with some, but not complete, dieback.
Mikkusu
Josephine (D. Virginiana) x Taishu (D. Kaki). Developed in Japan.
Alias
• JT-02
Zone
• 5a (4)
Ripens
🍊
• mid
• precocious
• precocious
Fruit
• 2.5 to 3", astringent
Nikita's Gift
Rosseyanka (D. Kaki x D. Virginiana) x D. Kaki? Developed in Yalta, Ukraine.
Zone
• 6b (6a)
Ripens
🍊
• mid?
Fruit
• 2.5", astringent
Nikita's Gift will probably experience some, but not complete, dieback during lower zone 6a temperatures.
Fruit drop is commonly experienced during the first few years it attempts to produce.
Rosseyanka
D. Kaki x D. Virginiana. Developed in Yalta, Ukraine.
Zone
• 5a
Ripens
🍊
• mid?
Fruit
• astringent
Zima Khurma
Nikita's Gift x D. Virginiana? Developed in Japan.
Alias
• NB-02
Zone
• 5b? (5a)
Fruit
• astringent
American Persimmon: Diospyros virginiana
varieties in this section generally share these traits (unless stated otherwise)
American persimmons are often self-sterile, but newer varieties, and those from the 'Early Golden' strain, are generally self-fertile either through parthenocarpy, the production of male flowers, or a combination of both. It is uncommon for a persimmon to experience a disease of any significance in the United States. Leaf and fruit spot are the only ones you will likely experience, and they are cosmetic. Insect damage is generally irrelevant as well. While many of them appear to be hardier than what they are typically said to be, only the earliest ripening varieties should be grown near their northern limit. American persimmons belong to the astringent category.
Early Golden
Discovered in Alton, Illinois (1880).
Zone
• 4
Blooms
💮
• ◦ self-fertile (parthenocarpy and male flowers)
Ripens
🍊
• early ◦ 1st week of October in Ontario
• precocious
• precocious
Fruit
• 1.5" to 2"
Early Golden, and many of its female seedlings, produce male flowers, but it may take a few extra years for them to show up and they seem to prioritize weak branches. Persimmons pollinated by these male flowers seem to only form a few seeds rather than all eight.
Early Jewel
Developed in Illinois
Alias
• H-118, Prairie Star
Zone
• 5a (4)
Blooms
💮
• ◦ self-fertile (parthenocarpy)
Ripens
🍊
• early
• precocious
• precocious
Fruit
• 2"+, possibly up to 3"
Elmo
Alias
• A-118
Zone
• 5a (4)
Blooms
💮
• ◦ self-sterile?
Ripens
🍊
• mid
Fruit
• 1.5"+
Garretson
Seedling of Early Golden. Introduced in Pennsylvania (1920).
Zone
• 4
Blooms
💮
• ◦ self-fertile (male flowers)
Ripens
🍊
• early ◦ 1st week of October in Geneva, NY — slightly before Early Golden
• precocious
• precocious
Fruit
• 1.37" to 1.5"
Garretson is more productive than Early Golden.
John Rick
Seedling of Killen. Selected in 1958.
Zone
• 5a (4)
Blooms
💮
• ◦ self-sterile
Ripens
🍊
• early ◦ with Early Golden or shortly afterward
• precocious
• precocious
Fruit
• up to 2"
John Rick produces fairly attractive fruit in comparison to some of the older varieties.
While a member of the 'Early Golden' family, John Rick does not appear to be self-fertile.
Lehman's Delight
Developed in Terra Haute, Indiana.
Alias
• 100-46
Zone
• 5a
Blooms
💮
• ◦ self-sterile?
Ripens
🍊
• mid?
Fruit
• over 2" (possibly over 3")
Meader
Developed in Rochester, New Hampshire.
Zone
• 4a (3b)
Blooms
💮
• ◦ self-fertile (parthenocarpy and male flowers)
Ripens
🍊
• early
Fruit
• 1.5" to 2"
Morris Burton
Originated in Mitchell, Indiana (1957).
Zone
• 5a (4)
Blooms
💮
• ◦ self-fertile (male flowers)
Ripens
🍊
• early? (early-mid)
Prok
Selected in Amherst, New York.
Zone
• 4a
Blooms
💮
• ◦ self-fertile (parthenocarpy)
Ripens
🍊
• early
Fruit
• 2.5" to 3"
Prok is sometimes reported to have flavor (and texture) reminiscent of an Asian Persimmon due to its more mild nature.
Ruby
Zone
• 5a (4)
Blooms
💮
• ◦ self-fertile
Ripens
🍊
• mid?
• precocious?
• precocious?
Weber
Originated in Alabama
Zone
• 5a (4)
Blooms
💮
• ◦ self-sterile?
Ripens
🍊
• early
Yates
Discovered in southern Indiana (1983)?
Alias
• Juhl
Zone
• 4a
Blooms
💮
• ◦ self-fertile (parthenocarpy)
Ripens
🍊
• early ◦ shortly before Garretson
• precocious
• precocious
Fruit
• 1.37" to 2.5"