Persimmon Seedlings

Persimmon seedlings for sale here are Diospyros virginiana, the native American persimmon that carries orange fruit into late fall. We ship them bare-root at 6-12 inches, 12-18 inches and as a row run of mixed 6 to 24 inch seedlings, in packs of 100, 500 and 1000, for orchards, wildlife plantings, nurseries and anyone starting native fruit trees from the ground up.

Persimmon Seedlings Size, Zones and Sun

Left alone, American persimmon grows 30 to 80 feet tall and 20 to 35 feet across, though on poor ground it may stay nearer 15 feet and shrubby. It's hardy in zones 4 to 9 and takes full sun or part shade. Moist, sandy, well-drained soil is its favorite, but clay, loam and thin soil all work, and an occasional dry spell won't hurt it.

Persimmon Flowers and Fruit

Small, fragrant flowers open in May and June, white to greenish-yellow. The fruit that follows is yellow to orange, 1 to 1.5 inches across, and ripens from September into December. It stays puckery until it's fully ripe and soft, so be patient and let it go.

Persimmon and Wildlife

Birds, deer, foxes, raccoons and even black bears eat the fruit, and the tree is a host for luna moth and hickory horned devil caterpillars. Our look at native fruit trees and shade plants shows what else brings animals into a planting.

Where to Plant Persimmon

Choose a spot where the tree can stay. The taproot goes deep, and moving a persimmon later is a chore. Field edges, wildlife plots, orchard rows and the back of a big lot all work well. Space trees at least 20 feet apart. Our persimmon cultivation and care guide covers the long game.

Planting Persimmon Seedlings Bare-root

Soak the roots for an hour, dig a hole wide enough to spread them, and set the seedling at the depth it grew. Firm the soil, water well and mulch. Water weekly through the first summer. A tube or wire cage keeps deer off the young stems.

Buying Persimmon Seedlings in Bulk

Row run is the budget pick for acreage, a mix of 6 to 24 inch seedlings straight from the row. The graded 6-12 and 12-18 inch sizes are more even, which suits nurseries that grow on. At 20 by 20 feet about 109 trees fill an acre, so a pack of 100 covers nearly all of one.

Good to Know About Persimmon Seedlings

Ripe fruit drops and gets messy, so keep trees off walks and patios. Root suckers can come up around the trunk. Young trees may take anywhere from 4 to 10 years to fruit, and leaf spot shows up in some seasons.

Persimmon Seedlings for Orchards and Nurseries

Buyers use these to plant out native fruit trees or to grow on in nursery rows. A planting of several trees gives wildlife a steadier supply and gives you better odds of fruit. Keep weeds back from the base for the first couple of years and the trees get away faster.

Persimmon Seedling Sizes, Packs and Shipping

Persimmon seedlings ship bare-root in November, in 6-12 inch and 12-18 inch sizes or a 6 to 24 inch row run, in packs of 100, 500 and 1000. Volume pricing available. Browse more bare-root seedlings in our wholesale collection.