Plant family: Ebenaceae
Plant origin: China.
Fruit description: Astringent Persimmons must be eaten when the fruit is bright orange, soft and fully ripe, because they have a high tannin content. If they are eaten when unripe, with any green colour still on the skin or still firm, an unpleasant drying effect is experienced on the tongue and in the mouth. Dai Dai Maru and Nightingale are Astringent Persimmon varieties, and must be eaten when the fruit is bright orange, soft and fully ripe.
The Dai Dai Maru Persimmon is a large round fruit, weighing on average 350g. When ripe, the fruit skin is smooth, bright orange, shiny, and thin. They have a sweet jelly like texture, with 1 or 2 seeds. Dai Dai Maru are an Astringent Persimmon variety. The stem is indented at the top of the fruit and around it are the 4 flat flower petals, sepals, which slowly brown off. Dai Dai Maru Persimmon are a mid-season fruit, ripening in Autumn. The tree grows to 7 metres.
Flowers: The small flowers appear in Spring on new growth with new leaves, the Male flowers are a pinkish white, the Female flowers are a creamy yellow. They are about 2cm wide and have 4 big petals which remain on the fruit until it is ready to eat.
Growing conditions: Persimmons can grow in a cold, cool or subtropical climate. The deciduous Persimmon tree is very ornamental as its leaves turn a lovely colour in Autumn. The tree has a spreading shape. The leaves are glossy, green, broad and stiff, downy on the underside, up to 20cm long. The ripe fruit is spectacular, glowing orange hanging from branches. The DWARF Fuyu Persimmon grows well and looks fantastic in a pot. All Persimmon trees are frost tolerant. Persimmons grow in any well-drained soil but prefer fertile rich soil. Plant in full sun and protect the young tree from strong wind. Feed your tree in August and January with general fertiliser. Make sure the tree has adequate water when flowering and fruiting.
Uses: Astringent Persimmons must be eaten when the fruit is bright orange, soft and fully ripe, because they have a high tannin content. If they are eaten when unripe, with any green colour still on the skin or still firm, an unpleasant drying effect is experienced on the tongue and in the mouth.
Medicinal uses: Persimmons are very high in beta carotene, from which the body makes vitamin A and are also high in vitamin C. Persimmons are used in Chinese medicine.
Pollination requirements: Self-Pollinating.
Harvest time Harvest Dai Dai Maru Astringent Persimmons when the fruit is bright orange, soft and fully ripe when they have a slightly soft give when gently squeezed. Unripe fruit can be kept at room temperature to ripen. Persimmons ripen from mid-Summer to late Autumn.
Plant relatives Persimmon is related to the Black Sapote, Diospyros digyna.
Special features: The black hard wood known as Ebony is from the Persimmon plant family. Ebony is used for carvings and for piano keys. All Persimmons have magnificent autumn foliage colors, from yellow, bright orange to crimson leaves.
Grown by method: Grafted Pot size: 6 litre
Plant growing Height and Width for pots or in the ground planting: Grows to 3 metres high by 2 metres wide if Planted in a Pot. Grows 7 metres high by 4 metres wide if Planted in the Ground.
Shipping plant pot or planter bag size: 6 litre
