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Diospyros virginiana
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<p><i>Diospyros virginiana</i> is a <a href="/facts/Persimmon/KLD0gUXS">persimmon</a> <a href="/facts/Species/oDg6b96r">species</a> commonly called the American persimmon, common persimmon, eastern persimmon, simmon, possumwood, possum apples, or sugar plum. It ranges from southern <a href="/facts/Connecticut/LeDhYdJG">Connecticut</a> to <a href="/facts/Florida/cF245A3Q">Florida</a>, and west to <a href="/facts/Texas/B987WHF0">Texas</a>, <a href="/facts/Louisiana/2GvfFcKE">Louisiana</a>, <a href="/facts/Oklahoma/fK28L1a4">Oklahoma</a>, <a href="/facts/Kansas/koenIXmE">Kansas</a>, and <a href="/facts/Iowa/taAwUvKE">Iowa</a>. The tree grows in the wild but has been cultivated for its fruit and wood since prehistoric times by <a href="/facts/Indigenous_peoples_of_the_Americas/LG2r6wXm">Native Americans</a>. </p><p><i>Diospyros virginiana</i> grows to 20 m (66 ft), in well-drained soil. The tree is typically <a href="/facts/Dioecious/jwMHLkuM">dioecious</a>, so one must have both male and female plants to obtain fruit. Most <a href="/facts/Cultivar/nfaLJJM3">cultivars</a> are <a href="/facts/Parthenocarpic/uxnMbHjs">parthenocarpic</a> (setting seedless fruit without pollination). The fragrant flowers are <a href="/facts/Pollinated/u383g7XJ">pollinated</a> by insects and wind. Fruiting typically begins when the tree is about 6 years old. </p><p>The fruit is round or oval and usually orange-yellow, sometimes bluish, and from 2 to 6 cm (3⁄4 to 2+1⁄4 in) in diameter. Both the tree and the fruit are referred to as persimmons, with the latter appearing in desserts and cuisine in the <a href="/facts/Cuisine_of_the_Southern_United_States/9UnLdR0w">U.S. South</a> and <a href="/facts/Cuisine_of_the_Midwestern_United_States/xaXb3Ubc">Midwest</a>. </p><p>Commercial varieties include the very productive Early Golden, the productive John Rick, Miller, Woolbright and the Ennis, a seedless variety. Another nickname of the American persimmon, 'date-plum' also refers to a persimmon species found in South Asia and South Europe, <i><a href="/facts/Diospyros_lotus/FjPTRNu8">Diospyros lotus</a></i>. Today, persimmons are also grown on small farms as a heritage crop. </p>