Download Featured Plant of the Month, July 2012 Texas Persimmon.docx

Featured Plant of the Month, July, 2012
Texas Persimmon
Diospyros texana
Location: Parking Lot K on the west side.
The genus name of this tree is Diospyros which translates from Greek as “divine fruit” or “fruit of the
gods”. This name was undoubtedly chosen because of a larger richer tasting persimmon than the fruit
the native Texas Persimmon bears. The genus is mainly tropical and has 425 species. Diospyros is
represented in Texas by two species D. texana and D. virginiana. Diospryos texana is a member of the
Ebenaceae (Persimmon or Ebony Family). This family is not a large one. It has 485 members that are
noted primarily for edible fruit and/or timber. The Ebony tree that is in this family has dark, dense
heavy wood that is very valuable.
Diospyros texana grows in many parts of the western and southern areas of the state as well as in
Northern Mexico. This tree is deciduous or partly deciduous in its northern range and evergreen in its
southern range. It grows on thin limestone soils on slopes and in open woodlands. This tree adapts to
caliche, clay or loamy soils, if there is good drainage. The Texas Persimmon flourishes in full sun, but it
can adapt to partial shade. In heavy shade it becomes weak and spindly and less attractive. This tree is
drought tolerant and is cold hardy to 20 degrees.
The leathery leaves of this plant are small, dark green and glabrous (without hairs) on the upper surface
and pubescent to tomentose (covered with soft curly hairs that may be matted or tangled) on the lower
surface. The simple leaves are oval to oblong and are one to two inches in length. The leaves are
arranged alternately on the stems.
The trees are dioecious i.e. the inconspicuous staminate flowers and the small white urn-shaped
pistillate flowers are on separate trees. In populations staminate trees outnumber the fruit producing
pistillate trees. The fruit is a berry, about an inch in diameter, that has 3 to 8 seeds. The green fruits are
not edible but when ripe they have a dark color and a sweet taste. The small fruits are covered with
short fine hairs. The fruit is eaten by many kinds of birds and other wildlife. The juice from the fruit is
used to dye skins in Mexico. The white, lightly fragrant flowers attract butterflies. Texas Persimmons
are host plants for the larvae (caterpillars) of Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melius) and Henry’s Elfin
(Callophrys henrici).
The Texas Persimmon is a very attractive tree for residential or commercial landscapes. It has many
desirable characteristics and features. One especially beautiful thing about it is the dark outer bark that
peels away much as the Crape Myrtle does to reveal a smooth silvery gray surface. The height of this
multi-trunk tree is usually ten to fifteen feet, but under favorable conditions it can become much taller.
To propagate this tree the best method is to plant fresh seeds from which all the pulp has been
removed. Persimmons all have long tap roots and do not transplant well.
References:
Cox, Paul and Patty Leslie. Texas Trees A Friendly Guide.
Diggs, George M., Jr., Barney L. Lipscomb, Robert J. O’Kennon. Shinners & Mahler’s Flora of North
Central Texas.
Mielke, Judy. Native Plants for the Southwester Landscape.
Nokes, Jill. How to Grow Native Plants of Texas and the Southwest.
Simpson, Benny J. A Field Guide to Texas Trees.
Tekiela, Stan. Trees of Texas.
Vines, Robert A. Trees, Shrubs and Vines of the Southwest.