Diospyros kaki (F) | Japanese persimmon

RHS

Other common names

Chinese date plum, Chinese persimmon, kaki, oriental persimmon, persimmon, Sharon fruit

Synonyms

Diospyros chinensis

Fruit Edible Trees

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A spreading deciduous tree with oval, glossy, dark green leaves, up to 20cm long, which turn yellow, orange, red and purple in autumn. Small, pale yellow, bell-shaped flowers are produced in summer followed, on female trees, by edible, yellow or orange persimmon fruit

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Loam

Max Height

8-12 metres

Max Spread

4-8 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 20–50 years
Max Spread: 4-8 metres
Max Height: 8-12 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: West–facing or South–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H4

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Ebenaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Diospyros are deciduous trees and shrubs with bold, often glossy, leaves and fleshy, colourful fruit. Small bell- or urn-shaped male and female flowers usually occur on separate plants
Name Status: Correct
Horticultural Group

Horticultural Classification Codes

Horticultural Classification Codes are often given to genera which have a large number of species or cultivars. They are used to categorise cultivated plants based on specific, shared characteristics such as shape, colour, size or flowering time, and can be displayed as letters or numbers

For example:
Dahlia ‘Sunset Kate (Sin) = Single flower
Rosa ‘Marigold’ (HT) = Hybrid Tea: This genus produces fruit, but not necessarily edible fruit
Plant Range: China, Japan, Korea

How to Grow

Cultivation

Requires deep, fertile, well-drained, loamy soil in full sun with shelter from cold wind and late spring frosts

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown as soon as ripe

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
City and courtyard gardens
Low Maintenance
Wall side borders

Pruning

Pruning group 1

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely)