Persimmon

Diospyros kaki

Tree Fruit
Deciduous
Unripe Fruit Is an Obstruction Risk for Livestock

Pet & Human Safety

People: Toxic to peoplePets: Not on the ASPCA lists as we read them

Human edibility

Edible with preparation

Edible parts

fruit (raw or cooked), leaves (as tea, per NC State)

Hazardous parts

unripe fruit, especially of astringent varieties

Preparation

Astringent varieties must be fully ripe (soft) or artificially treated to remove astringency before eating; non-astringent varieties can be eaten from firm through soft. UF/IFAS also says peeling and cooking can reduce tannin content. Eating unripe persimmons can form a hard mass in the stomach that may block the digestive tract and sometimes needs surgery, so wait for the fruit to soften (UF/IFAS EDIS HS1479).

Hazard type

tannins, diospyrobezoar (hard mass in the stomach that may block the digestive tract)

Hazard route

ingestion

How complete this information is

The safety information on this page is partial. Where a source covers a point, it is shown; where none does, the page says so.

Toxic to pets

No ASPCA entry found.

IMPORTANT, and distinct from a toxicity verdict: unripe persimmon fruit and seeds are not easily digested by horses and can polymerize into a hard, glue-like mass (a phytobezoar) that causes gastrointestinal obstruction and impaction colic: documented in a peer-reviewed case series specifically involving American persimmon (D. virginiana). Veterinary sources are explicit that 'this is a physical blockage problem, not a poisoning.' Symptoms include colic, unexplained weight loss, anorexia, and diarrhea, sometimes appearing weeks after ingestion since fruit persists on branches into winter, prolonging exposure. This is a mechanical/obstruction hazard, most documented in horses and other livestock, not a toxin-based poisoning, and is reported separately from the 'not listed' toxicity verdict above so the two are not conflated.

Poison control

If someone has collapsed, cannot be woken, is having a seizure or has trouble breathing, call 911 now. For any other possible poisoning, call Poison Help: 1-800-222-1222.

Emergency number source: U.S. federal law (47 U.S.C. § 251(e)(3)), read 2026-10-07.

Naturalist Lore

Historical Background & Breeding Lore

The history of this plant and its name, and how it was bred, where we have them.

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Care

Hardiness zones: Diospyros kaki: USDA zones 7a-10b, does not tolerate temperatures below 10F (NC State). Diospyros virginiana: USDA zones 4a-9b, substantially more cold-hardy (NC State).
Water needs: moderate
Mature size: Diospyros kaki: 20-30 ft height x 15-25 ft width (NC State), though Florida specimens often stay smaller. Diospyros virginiana: notably larger, 30-80 ft height x 20-35 ft width (NC State).
Family: Ebenaceae (ebony family)
Where it comes from: Diospyros kaki: China/Japan. Diospyros virginiana: native to the eastern/central US, New England to Florida, west to Texas and Kansas (NC State).

Soil & Drainage

Pruning & Flush Rhythm

Feeding Schedule

How to prepare the soil, when and what to feed, and how and when to prune where that applies.

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