Diospyros kaki Seeds | Japanese Persimmon
LATIN NAME: Diospyros kaki
COMMON NAME: Persimmon, Japanese Persimmon, Kaki
Plant Profile
Diospyros kaki, commonly known as Persimmon, is a handsome, deciduous tree in the ebony family (Ebenaceae), native to warm hills of eastern Asia, while it is grown around warm world for its sweet fruits. Persimmon is one of oldest and most beloved of fruit trees of warm lands, and its bright, sweet fruit has been grown for a very long time. Mature plants top out at about Ten metres. For the small amount of care it requires, the return is remarkable.
Science & Biotechnology
The species features in the wider study of the ebony family, and its traits make it a useful subject for work on germination biology, cultivation and ornamental selection. The Oriental persimmon has a genuine and distinguished place in both agricultural and nutritional research. In the laboratory and trial ground alike, it serves as workable material for propagation research and line selection.
Uses & Benefits
Beyond its ornamental appeal, Persimmon has the practical versatility that makes a plant worth growing from seed year after year. Ecologically, the Oriental persimmon is a generous tree of the autumn. Its small flowers feed bees and insects, and its large, orange fruits feed birds and small animals, while it is a beloved presence in orchards and villages of China, Japan and Korea. A plant that has settled in will get along with only routine care.
Persimmons are carotenoid-rich fruit, and their tannins made unripe fruit a traditional astringent; ebony relatives yield the world’s blackest cabinet wood.
Growing from Seed
Starting Persimmon from seed is simple and satisfying. Scatter the seed evenly over a loose seed compost, cover to no more than its own depth, and keep the pot moist and bright. Prick the seedlings out once they are large enough to handle, grow them on in bright light, and plant out when conditions allow.
Our Take
The traditional uses covered above are what first made this species worth cultivating. Once established, Persimmon, Japanese Persimmon, Kaki largely looks after itself. After establishment, care settles into an easy routine.
Related Reading
Gardeners who grow Persimmon often pair it with these related subjects: