A beautiful native tree, often developing a symmetrical, rounded crown. Can become quite large, but grows rather slowly. Of interest particularly for its edible fruit, which is about 1" to 11/2" in diameter. Unripe fruits are astringent and inedible, but they become very sweet and pleasantly flavored when fully ripe in fall. When ripe the fruit is little affected by freezing, and can persist on the tree, in edible condition, for weeks; we sometimes do not pick the last fruit until after Christmas. The tree is not subject to any serious pests or diseases in our planting. (A number of species of mammals and birds are fond of the fruit, although so far they haven't been much of a problem, either. Of course, the bears haven't found the trees yet...) Trees typically begin bearing at a young age (sometimes the year after grafting), tend to bear reasonably good crops every year, and often bear very heavy crops. We have been growing American persimmon trees at Tripple Brook Farm for at least 20 years.
American persimmon grows best in moist, rich, sandy soil, but is quite adaptable; it can even tolerate poor, dry locations. The tree will tolerate some shade, but for good fruit production it needs plenty of sun. The chief problem we have encountered in growing American persimmons here is finding varieties which will ripen properly in our short growing season. 'Early Golden' ripens quite reliably here, although not with much time to spare. (American persimmons should be allowed to ripen on the tree; they generally do not ripen well off the tree). In short-season areas such as this, it is advisable to situate the tree in as warm and sunny a location as possible. An elevated location, which effectively gives the tree a longer freeze-free growing season, is also desirable.
Persimmon trees normally are either male or female; female trees usually require pollination in order to set fruit. 'Early Golden' apparently has the ability to set seedless fruit without pollination (it may actually be pollen from chestnut trees which enables them to set seedless fruit). In any case we are not yet offering any pollinators, but the odds are pretty good that 'Early Golden' will fruit without pollination from another persimmon tree. In the future we hope to offer pollinators, as well as additional fruiting cultivars.