Persimmon Trees For Sale

Looking for a fruit tree that delivers both beauty and harvest? Discover persimmon trees perfect for California gardens. From compact varieties for small spaces to full-sized trees for abundant fruit production, our collection combines cold-hardy cultivars, stunning fall color, and sweet orange fruit that ripens from October through December.

Transform your landscape with these versatile native trees today.

Persimmon Varieties for Every Garden

Whether you're planning a small backyard orchard or adding specimen trees to your landscape, there's a persimmon variety for every space and need. Persimmons are divided into astringent and non-astringent types, and understanding the difference is the first step toward choosing your ideal tree.

American Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana)

The common persimmon is native to the eastern United States, where Native Americans prized it for centuries as a food source, eating the fruit fresh, dried, and in beverages. Diospyros virginiana is a dioecious species, meaning male and female flowers appear on separate trees - so you'll typically need both male and female trees for reliable fruit production. Common persimmon trees reach 35–60 feet tall with distinctive dark brown, blocky bark and dark green leaves that turn vibrant shades of orange and yellow in fall. The wood is exceptionally dense - historically used for billiard cues, shuttles, and tool handles.

Female trees produce edible fruit after frost, yielding small, round orange fruit with a rich, honey-like sweetness when fully ripe. American persimmons provide late-season food for various wildlife - the fruit attracts birds, deer, and raccoons throughout fall and winter. Named cultivars like 'Meader' (a self-fruitful selection) and 'Caramel Cocktail' (nearly seedless with caramel and vanilla notes) offer improved fruit size over wild types. Common persimmon can tolerate a wide range of soil types and withstands temperatures down to –25°F, making it incredibly adaptable.

Asian Persimmon Cultivars

Diospyros kaki is the most commercially important persimmon, and two cultivars dominate home gardens and markets alike. Fuyu is the most common non-astringent persimmon variety - firm fuyu persimmons can be eaten fresh and crisp like apples, making them excellent in salads or for snacking. Their flat, tomato-shaped fruit needs no softening; simply slice and enjoy. Fuyu persimmons keep well in storage and transit, a major advantage for home growers.

Hachiya is a widely grown astringent persimmon variety with urn shaped, conical fruit. Hachiya persimmons are astringent and must be eaten when soft - astringent persimmons contain high levels of tannins that create a puckering sensation if consumed too early. The flavor of fully ripe Hachiya persimmons is rich and honey-like, with a jelly-like texture perfect for baked goods, muffins, and preserves. Other notable Asian cultivars include 'Chocolate' (Tsuru Noko), a pollination-variant type with brown flesh when fully pollinated, and 'Saijo,' a sweet, elongated variety sometimes called sharon fruit in commercial markets. Many Asian types are parthenocarpic, producing seedless fruit without pollination - ideal when you have space for only one tree.

Dwarf and Semi-Dwarf Varieties

Space-saving options reaching 8–15 feet make persimmon growing possible even in patios and small yards. Early-bearing dwarf varieties can produce edible fruit within 2–3 years of planting - far faster than seed-grown stock. These compact trees are ideal for residential landscapes where a large tree would overwhelm the space, and their manageable height means easier harvesting without ladders. Dwarf Asian types respond well to annual pruning, and some can even be grown in espalier form against walls or fences.

Choose the Right Persimmon for Your Climate and Space

The right variety thrives in your specific growing conditions and meets your harvest goals. Persimmons are adaptable to various growing conditions, but matching cultivar to climate ensures the best fruit production.

For Mediterranean and Coastal California

Select Asian persimmon varieties that perform well in mild winter climates. Non astringent persimmons like Fuyu thrive in coastal zones where winters stay moderate and consistent. Asian persimmons have relatively low chill hour requirements - under 100 hours in many cases - but watch for erratic warm spells in late winter that can trigger premature bud break and frost vulnerability. Choose D. lotus rootstock for improved drought tolerance and soil adaptability in Mediterranean climates.

For Inland and Mountain Areas

American persimmons excel in areas with cold winters and hot summers. Cold-hardy cultivars benefit from winter chill for optimal fruit development, and many ripen their sweetest fruit after first frost. Named selections like 'Prok' produce large, firm fruit, while 'Meader' offers self-fruitful convenience - reducing the need for a dedicated male tree. Hybrid breeding programs are also creating crosses that combine American cold hardiness with Asian fruit quality.

For Small Gardens and Urban Spaces

Dwarf varieties and trained trees maximize fruit production in limited space. Self-pollinating cultivars eliminate the need for multiple separate trees, and compact Asian types can be maintained at 12–15 feet with annual pruning. If you're already growing fruit in tight quarters - perhaps a Meyer Lemon Tree or Pineapple Guava - a dwarf persimmon fits right into a diverse edible landscape.

For Large Properties and Orchards

Standard-sized trees provide maximum fruit yield and impressive landscape presence. Plant multiple varieties - combining astringent and non astringent, early and late ripening cultivars - to extend your harvest season from September through December. Male flowers from a pollinator tree can improve fruit set across an entire planting. Space standard Asian trees 20–24 feet apart and American persimmons 25–30 feet apart for optimal canopy development.

Premium Tree Quality That Ensures Success

Healthy, well-established trees adapt quickly and produce fruit sooner. Investing in quality nursery stock means decades of reliable harvests.

Container-Grown Trees

Robust root systems in container-grown persimmons establish quickly after transplanting. Available in multiple sizes from young whips to mature specimens, container stock offers year-round planting flexibility. Unlike bare-root trees, container-grown persimmons can be planted in fall through early spring - or even in early summer with proper watering.

Grafted Varieties

Grafted trees deliver superior fruit quality and consistent production through proven rootstock combinations. Expect edible fruit 3–5 years after planting with Asian grafted varieties, compared to 4–9 years for seed-grown American types. Common rootstock choices include D. lotus (vigorous, fibrous roots excellent for California soils), D. kaki(strong compatibility with Asian scions), and D. virginiana (tolerant of moisture extremes but prone to suckering). The rootstock determines drought tolerance, disease resistance, and tree vigor, so always ask about the rootstock when purchasing.

Climate-Adapted Stock

Trees grown in California conditions transition faster and fruit sooner than imports from other regions. Our cultivars are selected for proven performance in Western growing conditions - from the mild coastal zones to the hot Central Valley. Every tree ships healthy, vigorous, and ready to thrive in your garden.

How to Plant and Care for Persimmon Trees

Proper planting and care ensure decades of beautiful trees and abundant harvests. Persimmon flowers support pollinators throughout the growing season, while the leathery foliage and fragrant, creamy white blossoms add ornamental value from late spring through fall.

Site Selection and Planting

Persimmons thrive in full sun to partial shade, though full sun locations produce the best fruit set and sweetest flavor. Persimmons prefer well-drained, fertile soil - slightly acidic to neutral (pH 6.0–7.0) is ideal. Amend heavy clay with compost to improve drainage and prevent root rot from Phytophthora and other crown diseases.

Space standard Asian varieties 20–25 feet apart and dwarf types 10–15 feet apart. Plant in fall through early spring for best root establishment before summer heat arrives. Keep in mind that persimmons can grow 35 to 60 feet tall in their mature form, so plan for the long term. If you're working with a compact yard, consider the same thoughtful spacing approach you'd use for a Dwarf Strawberry Tree or Moorpark Apricot.

Ongoing Tree Care

Deep, infrequent watering during establishment and fruit development keeps roots healthy without encouraging crown rot. Annual pruning in late winter - using a modified central leader or open vase system - maintains shape and removes dead or crossing branches. A balanced fertilizer application in early spring supports healthy growth and ripening fruit through the season. Mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds, but keep mulch several inches from the trunk to prevent bark decay.

Harvest timing matters enormously. Non astringent persimmons like Fuyu are ripe when firm but deeply colored - eat persimmons of this type crisp, sliced into salads, or simply out of hand. Astringent persimmons like Hachiya must reach a soft, almost translucent state before the tannins subside. At that point, scoop the sweet flesh with a spoon and use it in muffins, baked goods, or enjoy it with the consistency of thick honey. Ripe Hachiya persimmons can be used in baking and are jelly-like in texture. Texas persimmon, a lesser-known species, produces black, sweet berries in August - an entirely different experience.

Nutritionally, persimmons reward your effort: they are rich in Vitamins A and C, and persimmons have higher dietary fiber levels than apples. A raw persimmon supplies 70 calories per 100g, and the fruit is 80% water and 19% carbohydrates, making it a light, nutritious snack. Persimmons are also a moderate source of manganese, providing 15% of Daily Value. Whether eaten fresh, dried into hoshigaki-style treats, or blended with bananas in smoothies, the food chemistry of persimmons delivers both flavor and nutrition.

Watch for common pests including Gill's mealybugs, scale insects, and redhumped caterpillars. In California orchards, integrated pest management helps keep these threats manageable without heavy chemical inputs. Dried leaves and woody debris should be cleaned from around trees each winter to reduce overwintering pest habitat.

Shop Persimmon Trees From Yardwork with Expert Support

Explore our collection of persimmon varieties selected for California gardens. Choose from American natives, Asian cultivars, and dwarf varieties to create your perfect fruit garden - whether you're after the tart complexity of a classic Hachiya, the crisp sweetness of a Fuyu, or the wildlife value of a towering native persimmon that lights up your landscape every fall.

Your sweet harvest awaits - plus enjoy free shipping on most orders over $600 and expert consultation services for optimal tree placement and care. Browse our full selection of trees for sale to complement your persimmon planting with other California-proven fruit and ornamental varieties.