Fruit Tree
Fuyu Persimmon
Diospyros kaki 'Fuyu' · Ebenaceae
Also called: Japanese Persimmon, Oriental Persimmon, Fuyu Kaki
Fuyu Persimmon (Diospyros kaki 'Fuyu') is a moderate-water fruit tree well suited to Tucson and the low desert. It's a slow to moderate-growing fruit tree.
Fuyu Persimmon at a glance
- Water use
- Moderate (established)
- Sun
- Full sun is best for fruit production, but in Tucson afternoon shade or filtered light reduces summer sunburn on the trunk and fruit; whitewash or paint the trunk to prevent sunscald.
- Mature size
- 15-25 ft tall and wide; often kept smaller (12-15 ft) with pruning in home landscapes.
- Growth rate
- Slow to moderate
- Bloom
- Creamy yellow / pale (inconspicuous), Inconspicuous creamy-yellow flowers in spring (April-May); fruit ripens fall (October-November).
- Cold hardiness
- Cold-hardy well below Tucson's lows (to about 0-10 F when dormant); fully hardy in USDA 9a-9b. Young trees benefit from sunburn protection more than frost protection.
- Soil
- Tolerates a wide range including Tucson's alkaline, clay-loam soils as long as drainage is adequate; amend planting backfill lightly and avoid waterlogged spots.
- Native range
- Species native to China and East Asia; long cultivated in Japan. Not native to Arizona.
- Best used as
- Edible fruit (non-astringent, eaten firm like an apple), Small shade or specimen tree, Fall color (orange-red foliage), Edible landscaping
- Wildlife
- Ripe fruit attracts birds; flowers offer minor forage for bees.
- Toxicity
- Fruit is non-toxic and edible. Large quantities of unripe astringent persimmon can cause digestive bezoars, but 'Fuyu' is non-astringent. Not considered toxic to pets.
How to grow Fuyu Persimmon in Tucson & the low desert
Watering
Deep, regular irrigation is essential in Tucson's heat; water established trees deeply every 5-7 days in summer (to 3 ft depth, out to the dripline) and every 2-3 weeks in winter. Drought stress causes fruit drop.
Fertilizer & nutrients
Light feeder; one application of balanced or citrus/fruit-tree fertilizer in early spring is usually enough. Over-fertilizing (especially nitrogen) worsens fruit drop, so go easy.
Pruning & care
Prune in winter dormancy to build a strong scaffold and remove dead/crossing wood; Fuyu fruits on current-season growth, so only light annual thinning is needed once established.
Notes
'Fuyu' is the most reliable, popular persimmon for the low desert: self-fruitful (no pollinizer needed), non-astringent so fruit can be eaten crisp. Provide trunk whitewash and consistent deep watering to avoid sunscald and fruit drop. Performs well in Tucson with afternoon protection.
Sources: University of Arizona Cooperative Extension / Pima County Master Gardeners; AMWUA Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert; Arizona Community Tree Council