Parks, Recreation & Leisure

Parks, Recreation & Leisure / Parks & Forestry

Tree Talk

Landscaping Tips | Plant of the Month | Tree Talk

Persimmons
I have acquired many tree loving friends through the years and I recently visited one who lives in Richmond, Indiana. He at one point planted his entire back yard into a symmetrical Georgian garden with an enclosing hedge of pruned apple trees. He quickly realized that he did not have the gardening staff and resources of European royalty and the garden was simplified and eventually the house was sold. We drove past the old place and I couldn't fail to notice the tall slender persimmon tree in the next yard, leafless but covered with luscious orange red fruit.

It is said that the only fruit that exceeds the sweetness of a ripened persimmon is the Persian date. Anyone who has ever tasted an unripe persimmon probably still has their mouth puckered. They are very astringent, the sweetness only coming to bear in most cases after a hard frost in mid to late October. Just like the paw paw they are popular with the critters and their seeds get moved around. It is best to plant two if one wants fruit as the trees are dioecious or separately sexed. I have seen persimmon fruit for sale, both the American (Diospyros virginiana) and the Japanese (Diospyros kaki). The fruit is quite perishable when ripe , putting this native Ohio fruit into the category where most people have not tasted it. The trees are attractive if sited away from driveways and sidewalks.

My buddy is currently living in a beautiful new home on a half acre of natural woodland with no grass. Yard work consists of his raking the autumn leaves off of the driveway into the woods. As I prune my espaliered crab apple tree in U. A., I wonder if he has figured out something that I should look into.

Parks & Forestry Division
Parks & Recreation Department
City of Upper Arlington
3600 Tremont Road
Upper Arlington, OH 43221
Phone: 614-583-5340