Persimmons · Dave Wilson Nursery

Izu Persimmon

Diospyros kaki ‘Izu’

A round, very sweet, non-astringent persimmon that ripens about three weeks before Fuyu, on a smaller tree that is a good backyard pick. Early ripening helps it at mid elevation as well as in the low desert. You can eat it firm, and thinning in heavy years keeps the fruit large.

Chill hours: 200 hours
Harvest: Late September to October in the low desert; later at elevation
Pollination: Self-fruitful
Mature size: 12–15 ft unpruned on Lotus; easy to hold at 8–10 ft with summer pruning

Which one

Every persimmon side by side

Same fruit, different seasons and different jobs. Pick the row that fits your ground and your calendar.

	A round, very sweet, non-astringent persimmon that ripens about three weeks before Fuyu, on a smaller tree that is a good backyard pick. Early ripening helps it at mid elevation as well as in the low desert. You can eat it firm, and thinning in heavy years keeps the fruit large.	Small to medium oblong red fruit with firm, brown, spicy-sweet flesh, often called the connoisseur's persimmon. It is non-astringent, so you can eat it firm, and it tastes best with seeds, when the flesh turns chocolate brown, so a second persimmon nearby helps. It ripens late, so plant it in the low desert and keep water steady.	An early, non-astringent persimmon with a spicy cinnamon-pastry flavor, ripening three to four weeks ahead of Fuyu, so you can eat it firm. Unlike most persimmons it needs a second variety nearby to crop, and Chocolate or Gosho are the matches. Early ripening helps it at mid elevation as well as in the low desert.	A large, squarish, flattened Fuyu that is non-astringent and crunchy like an apple when ripe, so there is no waiting for it to soften. Easy, self-fruitful and nearly pest-free, it fits the low desert and the milder parts of mid elevation. Steady water and a whitewashed trunk help against sunburn and fruit drop.	Medium, flat, crunchy fruit you eat firm like an apple, with no astringency. A top pick for first-timers, since it is self-fruitful, nearly pest free and happy in both hot and cool climates, from the low desert to the milder parts of mid elevation. Steady watering helps avoid fruit drop in summer heat.	Bigger and rounder than regular Fuyu, still crunchy, sweet and non-astringent when ripe. It ripens a little earlier than Jiro and is easy in both hot and cool climates, so it fits the low desert and milder mid elevation. Thin fruit lightly in heavy years so the big fruit do not break limbs.	A large, deep orange, acorn-shaped persimmon that is very sweet but astringent until it is completely soft, like jelly. It needs a hot summer to mature, which makes it a natural for the low desert, and it ripens late, so mid elevation is risky. Wait until the fruit is soft, or freeze and thaw it, before eating.	A medium, round, glossy orange-red persimmon with a very sweet, rich flavor. It is non-astringent, and when pollinated by another persimmon the flesh turns dark cinnamon and gets seeds. It ripens by midseason, so it works in the low desert and the milder parts of mid elevation.	An elongated yellow-orange, astringent persimmon that is very sweet with a renowned flavor once it is soft, and the tree turns red, orange and yellow in fall. It ripens late and wants a long hot summer, so it is a low desert tree. Wait until the fruit is jelly-soft before eating it.	A large, flat persimmon with thick reddish-orange skin and light orange flesh, shaped like a squashed tomato. It is astringent, so wait until it is soft before eating. It ripens late and likes a long hot summer, so it is a low desert tree.
Harvest	Late September to October in the low desert; later at elevation	Late October to November in the low desert	Mid September to October in the low desert; October at elevation	Mid October to November in the low desert; later at elevation	Mid October to November in the low desert; later at elevation	October to early November in the low desert; later at elevation	Late October to November in the low desert	October in the low desert; later at elevation	Late October to November in the low desert	November in the low desert (late ripener)
Chill hours	200 hours	200 hours	200 hours or less	200 hours	200 hours	200 hours	200 hours	200 hours	200 hours	200 hours
Pollination	Self-fruitful	Self-fruitful; a second persimmon nearby adds seeds and dark flesh	Needs a partner such as Chocolate or Gosho	Self-fruitful	Self-fruitful	Self-fruitful	Self-fruitful	Self-fruitful; pollination darkens and seeds the flesh	Self-fruitful	Self-fruitful
Mature size	12–15 ft unpruned on Lotus; easy to hold at 8–10 ft with summer pruning	20–25 ft unpruned on Lotus; easy to hold at 10–12 ft with summer pruning	20–25 ft unpruned on Lotus; easy to hold at 10–12 ft with summer pruning	20–25 ft unpruned on Lotus; easy to hold at 10–12 ft with summer pruning	20–25 ft unpruned on Lotus; easy to hold at 10–12 ft with summer pruning	20–25 ft unpruned on Lotus; easy to hold at 10–12 ft with summer pruning	25–30 ft unpruned on Lotus; easy to hold at 10–12 ft with summer pruning	20–25 ft unpruned on Lotus; easy to hold at 10–12 ft with summer pruning	20–25 ft unpruned on Lotus; easy to hold at 10–12 ft with summer pruning	20–25 ft unpruned on Lotus; easy to hold at 10–12 ft with summer pruning
From	$38	$47	$35	$35	$35	$42	$42	$42	$35	$38

Where this tree sits

Persimmons sit in the lower canopy layer.

Lower canopy

Fruit trees kept below the tall ones. Most of this year's program lives here, held to eight or ten feet by summer pruning.

Build your planting plan

Izu Persimmon

Every persimmon side by side

Persimmons sit in the lower canopy layer.

Other options in the lower canopy layer