Persimmon trees bring both elegance and flavor to the home orchard. With their glossy green leaves, brilliant fall color, and bright orange fruit, they’re a standout in any landscape. Their fruit is not only beautiful but delicious—ranging from sweet and mild to rich and honey-like depending on the variety. If you’re planning to plant a persimmon tree, here are three important things to consider: chill hours, planting location, and variety selection with pollination needs.
Chill Hours: The Secret to Reliable Fruiting
Chill hours are the total number of hours a plant spends between 32°F and 45°F during winter. This period of cool dormancy resets the plant and ensures strong flowering and fruit set when spring returns.
Persimmon trees are surprisingly adaptable but vary in their chill-hour requirements depending on the type.
Here’s a breakdown across the country:
- Northern regions (Ohio, New York, Michigan): 800–1,000 chill hours – ideal for cold-hardy types like Meader (American Grafted).
- Mid-Atlantic and Midwest (Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri): 600–800 hours – perfect for most persimmon varieties.
- Southern states (Georgia, Alabama, Texas, Florida Panhandle): 200–500 hours – well-suited to low-chill Japanese types such as Giant Fuyu and Tanenashi.
Matching your variety’s chill-hour requirement to your region ensures consistent blooming and fruiting year after year.
Planting Location: Sunlight, Soil, and Proper Care
Persimmon trees thrive in full sun, needing at least 6–8 hours daily for maximum fruit production and sweetness. They’re not overly picky about soil type, but well-drained loamy soil works best. Avoid areas prone to standing water, which can lead to root rot.
When planting, give your young tree the best start possible:
- Use Nutra Pro First-Year Fertilizer Packs for balanced, slow-release nutrition.
- Mix in a transplant blend with moisture-holding polymers to reduce watering stress.
- Protect your trees with tree shelters, which guard against deer, rabbits, and sunscald while promoting faster establishment.
Persimmons prefer slightly acidic to neutral soil (pH 6.0–7.0). Add compost or organic matter annually to enrich soil fertility and support long-term growth.
Varieties and Pollination
When selecting persimmon trees, consider both flavor and fruit type. Some are astringent (needing to fully soften before eating) while others are non-astringent (sweet even when firm).
- Giant Fuyu (Japanese Persimmon) – A non-astringent, low-chill variety that produces large, crisp fruit with honeyed flavor. Perfect for fresh eating and warmer climates.
- Meader (American Grafted) – A cold-hardy, self-pollinating variety that thrives in northern zones. The fruit is rich and complex, great for drying or baking.
- Tanenashi (Japanese Persimmon) – A traditional, astringent type that ripens to a deep orange color. Sweet and custard-like when soft, ideal for desserts.
While Meader is self-pollinating, other persimmons benefit from planting more than one tree for better yields and larger fruit. Cross-pollination between American and Japanese types can enhance production in mixed orchards.
Recipe: Persimmon Bread with Pecans 🍞🍂
This moist, spiced bread makes the perfect breakfast or afternoon treat. The rich, sweet flavor of persimmons pairs beautifully with cinnamon and nuts.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups persimmon pulp (from ripe Giant Fuyu or Tanenashi)
- 2 cups flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup butter, melted
- ½ cup chopped pecans
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a loaf pan.
- Mix flour, baking soda, salt, and spices in one bowl.
- In another bowl, whisk sugar, eggs, melted butter, and persimmon pulp.
- Combine wet and dry ingredients, then fold in pecans.
- Pour batter into the loaf pan and bake for 55–60 minutes until golden.
- Let cool before slicing.
This bread is tender, fragrant, and full of autumn flavor—perfect with coffee or a drizzle of honey.
🛒 Where to Buy Persimmon Trees
For premium-quality trees and unbeatable service, shop with Ty Ty Plant Nursery, LLC:
✅ Best prices on Giant Fuyu, Meader, and Tanenashi persimmon trees
✅ Non-GMO, climate-suited varieties for every U.S. growing zone
✅ Fast shipping so your trees arrive fresh and planting-ready
✅ Free 1-Year Plantsurance™ Guarantee – store credit if your tree doesn’t survive 🛡️
At Ty Ty, planting persimmons is always zero stress and all success.
🌟 Final Thought
Persimmon trees are both ornamental and delicious, offering beauty and bounty for decades. By understanding your region’s chill hours, preparing the right planting site, and choosing the perfect variety—like Giant Fuyu, Meader, or Tanenashi—you’ll enjoy autumn harvests of sweet, golden fruit for years to come.
Order your bare root persimmon trees from Ty Ty Plant Nursery, LLC today and grow with confidence.


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