Common Persimmon

Diospyros virginiana

Taxonomy

Division:: Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:: Ebenaceae
Genus:: Diospyros
Species:: Diospyros virginiana

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:: Perennial
Growth Habit:: Tree
Height:: More than 40 ft
Light Requirements:: Full Sun, Part Shade
Drought Tolerance:: Low
Bloom Months:: apr, may, jun
Bloom Colors:: Yellow, Green
Food Forest:: Plant contains edible parts

Native Range

United States: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:: ★★☆☆☆ Based on number of butterfly and moth species using this genus as host plant (Source: National Wildlife Federation)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

American plum borer (Euzophera semifuneralis), Bagworm moth (Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis), Cecropia moth (Hyalophora cecropia), Coptodisca diospyriella, Cossula magnifica, dot-lined white (Artace cribraria), Echo Moth (Seirarctia echo), Eumarozia malachitana, Exelis pyrolaria, Fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea), Glover's Bagworm Moth (Cryptothelea gloverii), gray renia (Renia adspergillus), Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), Harrisimemna trisignata, Hypocala andremona, Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis), Large necklace moth (Hypsoropha monilis), Large Tolype (Tolype velleda), long-winged dagger moth (Acronicta longa), Luna moth (Actias luna), Monoleuca semifascia, Penitent Underwing (Catocala piatrix), Promethea silkmoth (Callosamia promethea), Red-humped caterpillar moth (Schizura concinna), Regal Moth (Citheronia regalis), Small necklace moth (Hypsoropha hormos), southern metarranthis moth (Metarranthis hypochraria), Synanthedon uroceriformis, Tersa sphinx (Xylophanes tersa), Variable antepione (Antepione thisoaria), Variable Oakleaf Caterpillar Moth (Lochmaeus manteo), White-marked Tussock Moth (Orgyia leucostigma), white-marked tussock moth (Dasychira leucophaea)

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:: rich, well-drained loamy soil
pH:: 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:: tolerates poor drainage
Moisture:: dry to moderate
Notes:: adaptable to various soil types, including sandy and clay soils

Germination Information

Pre-treatment: Seeds can be sown directly after cleaning or cold stratified at 40°F for 90 days or stratified in damp sphagnum peat moss for three or four months in 36° to 40°F refrigerator.

Establishment: Seeds are collected from various locations including Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, Shenandoah National Park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and Chickasaw National Recreation Area. The protocols vary slightly in terms of pre-treatment and sowing techniques.

Source: npn.rngr.net