American Persimmon
Diospyros virginiana
Dimensions:
Height: 20’ - 60’
Mature spread: 20’ - 35’
Trunk Diameter: 1’ - 2’
Habitat and Range:
mostly grows wild across Kentucky in a variety of habitats
grows best on terraces of large streams and river bottoms in alluvial soils
Features:
considered a heritage crop and not grown commercially
edible fruit is astringent unless very ripe; high in vitamin C; ripens after a frost
termite resistant due to a certain chemical
its ebony heartwood is desired by woodworkers, but does not develop until it is 100 years old
it is well adapted to fire as it easily sprouts from its roots
called “possum wood” because opossums love the fruit
History:
consumed by mega fauna that roamed North America 10,000 years ago
fossil remains were found in Alaska and Greenland
its seeds were used as buttons during the American Civil War
