Common Persimmon Diospyros virginiana Linnaeus    
Kingdom Plantae   >   Division Tracheophyta   >   Class Magnoliopsida   >   Order Ebenales   >   Family Ebenaceae   >   Genus Diospyros   

Status:

This native tree species is a southeastern U.S. specialty that approaches the northern limit of its range in the Mid-Atlantic. It is widespread and common in Maryland. Fruit is edible and delicious when ripe, but shockingly astringent before ripening. Although some people say frost is required to fully ripen, the easiest test is simply whether the fruit is easily picked or shaken from the tree.

Relationships:

Host plant for various moth species including Sculptured Moth and Tersa Sphinx Moth (Database of World's Lepidopteran Host Plants).

An important food source for foxes, raccoons, opossums, skunks, and birds.

There are 567 records in the project database.

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Common Persimmon fruit in Baltimore Co., Maryland (10/24/2008). Photo by Martha Stauss. (MBP list)

A Common Persimmon in Talbot Co., Maryland (9/30/2018). Photo by Mark Johnson. (MBP list)

Fruit of Common Persimmon in Howard Co., Maryland (10/14/2015). Photo by Richard Orr. (MBP list)

Fruits of Common Persimmon in Washington Co., Maryland (9/26/2015). Photo by Mark Etheridge. (MBP list)

Common Persimmon growing in Montgomery Co., Maryland (9/24/2015). Photo by Elizabeth Miller. (MBP list)

Common Persimmon with unripe fruit in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (7/15/2012). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

Common Persimmon with unripe fruit in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (8/5/2012). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

Common Persimmon blooming in Montgomery Co., Maryland (6/15/2016). Photo by Robert Ferraro. (MBP list)

Common Persimmon blooming in Talbot Co., Maryland (6/4/2016). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

Common Persimmon in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (6/8/2020). (c) Matthew Beziat, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Matthew Beziat. (MBP list)

Common Persimmon blooming in Montgomery Co., Maryland (6/4/2013). Photo by Fritz Flohr Reynolds. (MBP list)

Common Persimmon in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (6/4/2018). Photo by Matt Grey. (MBP list)

Common Persimmon in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (10/11/2020). (c) Matthew Beziat, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Matthew Beziat. (MBP list)

Common Persimmon in Prince George's Co., Maryland (8/11/2016). Photo by Bill Harms. (MBP list)

Common Persimmon (trunk) at Fort Smallwood, Maryland (9/23/2012). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

Common Persimmon in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (6/11/2018). Photo by Wayne Longbottom. (MBP list)

A Common Persimmon trunk in Somerset Co., Maryland (1/20/2013). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

Common Persimmon (bark detail) in Kent Co., Maryland (9/25/2016). Photo by Dan Small. (MBP list)

The seeds of Common Persimmon in Worcester Co., Maryland (12/13/2015). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

Common Persimmon in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (9/27/2020). (c) Wayne Longbottom, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Wayne Longbottom. (MBP list)

Common Persimmon in Baltimore Co., Maryland (4/29/2019). (c) susanrich01, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by susanrich01 via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Common Persimmon in bloom in Howard Co., Maryland (6/16/2017). Collected and processed by Helen Lowe Metzman. Photo by USGS PWRC. (MBP list)

Common Persimmon in Montgomery Co., Maryland (10/30/2021). (c) belby, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Bonnie Bell. (MBP list)

Common Persimmon in Washington Co., Maryland (6/2/2017). Photo by Bill Harms. (MBP list)

Common Persimmon with persisting fruit in winter in Charles Co., Maryland (1/16/2017). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

Common Persimmon, fruits in late fall, in Montgomery Co., Maryland (11/22/2014). Photo by Bill Hill. (MBP list)


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