Growing American Persimmon in Canada
A cold-hardy persimmon from the eastern United States. Surviving winter is the easy part; ripening the fruit is the test.
Growing American persimmon in Canada is a long-season gamble worth knowing about. American persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) is hardier than the Asian persimmon sold in stores. The University of Wisconsin’s Uncommon Fruit project rates it US Zones 4 to 9, with some cultivars hardy to Zone 4, but warns that ripening can be a problem that far north.
It is not native to Canada. The same project gives its native range as New England to Florida and west to Texas and Kansas. These are US (USDA) hardiness zones, which are built differently from Canadian zones, so a US Zone 4 rating is not the same as a Canadian Zone 4 garden. See USDA vs Canadian zones to compare.
American persimmon at a glance: Most trees are male or female, so plant two unless you buy a self-fertile cultivar such as Meader. Buy a grafted tree and plant it young: the taproot makes moving it hard. Give it full sun. Expect fruit in about 3 to 5 years, and eat it only when soft: unripe fruit is very astringent.
Want a native Canadian tree fruit instead? See Growing Pawpaw in Canada for the pawpaw, which grows wild in southern Ontario.
Male, Female and Self-Fertile Trees
NC State Extension describes American persimmon as dioecious, with separate male and female trees, and says you need both for fruit. The University of Wisconsin project adds that some trees carry complete flowers and set fruit alone, and that a tree’s flowering can change from year to year.
Its trial cultivar Meader was chosen because it was said to be reliably self-fertile, and it fruited heavily. The University of Illinois Extension’s advice for gardeners is simpler: plant two cultivars with similar flowering and ripening times.
Season Length Is the Limit
A persimmon flowers late, which helps: in Wisconsin, its trees were still dormant when frost killed the blossoms on other fruit. The fruit then has to ripen before winter. NC State notes the fruit can hang on after the leaves drop without being harmed by freezing, but the Wisconsin trial found one tree’s fruit still unripe late in the season.
Average frost-free seasons in the mildest Canadian cities, from this site’s frost data:
| City | Canadian Zone | Average last frost | Average first frost | Frost-free season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windsor | 7a | Apr 20 | Oct 28 | 191 days |
| Niagara Falls | 6b | Apr 28 | Oct 22 | 177 days |
| St. Catharines | 7a | Apr 26 | Oct 18 | 175 days |
| Hamilton | 6b | Apr 25 | Oct 28 | 186 days |
| Toronto | 6b | Apr 20 | Nov 1 | 195 days |
| London | 6a | Apr 22 | Oct 18 | 179 days |
| Victoria | 8b | Mar 10 | Dec 15 | 280 days |
| Vancouver | 8b | Mar 15 | Nov 30 | 260 days |
| Kelowna | 6b | May 5 | Oct 15 | 163 days |
| Montreal | 5b | May 9 | Oct 7 | 151 days |
| Halifax | 6a | May 10 | Oct 18 | 161 days |
Frost dates are averages from Environment and Climate Change Canada climate normals. A long, warm season gives the fruit the most time; a short one is the main reason a northern persimmon fails to ripen.
Planting a Persimmon
Buy a grafted tree. NC State says grafted trees bear in about three years and seedlings take four to nine, with full production taking up to ten; the Wisconsin project gives three to five years for grafted stock.
Plant it young and leave it there. Both NC State and Illinois Extension say the deep taproot makes persimmon hard to transplant, and Wisconsin calls the taproot brittle. Illinois suggests a moderately well-drained, slightly acid soil and regular watering for the first few years.
In northern gardens the Wisconsin project recommends full sun, to speed ripening. It tolerates most soils except waterlogged ones.
How Big It Gets
Left alone, American persimmon is a full-size tree: NC State gives 9 to 24 m (30 to 80 feet), and the Wisconsin trial found its trees too tall to pick from a 3 m ladder within a few years, so it pruned for height. NC State also notes that mature trees send up root suckers and that dropped fruit can be messy.
Hardiness in the Wisconsin Trial
The Wisconsin project’s Meader trees survived −35 °C (−31.6 °F) three years after planting with no visible injury, as did trees of Russian Beauty, a hybrid with the Asian persimmon. Survival and ripening are separate questions: the same trial concluded it could not yet recommend the fruit as a reliable crop near the northern limit, while seeing potential.
When Is a Persimmon Ripe?
Soft. The Wisconsin project explains that American persimmons are full of tannins until thoroughly ripe, so unripe fruit is extremely astringent, while fully ripe fruit is sweet with a soft, pudding-like texture. Illinois Extension describes the same change, from bitter to sweet and custard-like.
Expect several pickings: in the Wisconsin trial some fruit was soft and sweet while other fruit on the same tree stayed hard. Ripe fruit can also be hard to pull off until it is very soft.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you grow persimmons in Canada?
American persimmon, the hardy species, can survive in the mildest parts of Canada. The University of Wisconsin rates it US Zones 4 to 9 but warns that ripening is a problem near its northern limit.
Is American persimmon native to Canada?
No. Its native range runs from New England to Florida and west to Texas and Kansas.
Do I need two persimmon trees?
Usually. Most American persimmons are male or female, so plant two cultivars, or choose a self-fertile one such as Meader.
How long until a persimmon tree fruits?
NC State says grafted trees bear in about three years and seedlings in four to nine.
Why is my persimmon bitter?
It is not ripe yet. American persimmons are very astringent until thoroughly ripe and soft.
Can I move a persimmon tree?
It is difficult. The deep, brittle taproot makes transplanting hard, so plant a young tree where it will stay.
How cold can American persimmon survive?
In the University of Wisconsin trial, Meader trees survived minus 35 degrees C with no visible injury.
Sources
- University of Wisconsin–Madison, Uncommon Fruit project — American Persimmon
- University of Illinois Extension — Diversify your orchard: Grow persimmons for a holiday season harvest
- North Carolina State University Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — Diospyros virginiana
- Environment and Climate Change Canada — Canadian Climate Normals (the frost dates in the tables, read from this site’s frost data)