Persimmon (kaki)
Diospyros kaki
Botanical family: Ebenaceae
Diospyros kaki, an Ebenaceae of East Asia (China, Japan). The astringent varieties (Hachiya…) are eaten only bletted; the non-astringent ones (Fuyu, apple-persimmon) are eaten firm. Sources: Plants For A Future, “Diospyros kaki”; Morton J. F. (1987), “Japanese Persimmon”, Fruits of warm climates, pp. 411-416.
Full sun, warm and sheltered
Deep, cool, well-drained, rather rich
Regular in summer, especially the first years
Fairly hardy once established (~-12 to -15 °C depending on variety)
Overwinters in your zone
Many varieties are self-fertile and set fruit without seeds (parthenocarpy)
Sets fruit without pollination
Role in permaculture
A fine autumn tree whose orange fruits cling to the bare branches after the leaves fall, a late resource for birds and a treat when everything else is finished. Increasingly cultivable in the north as the climate warms, robust and little prone to pests: a resilience fruit tree.
Companions
No companion planting is documented for this plant: no recommended neighbour, no neighbour to avoid.
Seasons & availability
Orange fruit picked in autumn and early winter, from October to December.
Available: October, November, December.
Guidance for the oceanic / temperate climate; it may vary with your region, altitude, exposure and growing method.
Sources
- Interfel, « Kaki : Présentation, disponibilité, conservation » (lesfruitsetlegumesfrais.com/fruits-legumes/fruits-exotiques-et-tropicaux/kaki)
- Plants For A Future, « Diospyros kaki » (pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Diospyros+kaki)
Nutritional & medicinal properties
For educational purposes. Not a substitute for medical advice. Effects depend on the form, the dose and personal context.
Precautions & contraindications
The astringent varieties are unpleasant (tannins) as long as they're not perfectly ripe. Eaten unripe and in large quantity, they can, rarely, form a gastric concretion (diospyrobezoar), a risk mainly in elderly, diabetic people or those who have had stomach surgery: prefer well-ripe fruits and without excess.
Species & varieties
The best-known species and varieties in France.
Common varieties
Key takeaways
- • Prefers full sun, warm and sheltered exposure.
- • Ideal soil: deep, cool, well-drained, rather rich.