being produced, is a true ebony, extremely close-grained and almost black; it is not harvested commercially. The seeds were used as buttons during the privation of the American Civil War in the South. Cultivation The American persimmon mostly grows wild. Experimental research stations in the 1890s tested native varieties of persimmon, but interest in cultivation of the native persimmon has been limited. Newly planted persimmon trees take a relatively long time to bear fruit. There are many sorts of fruit trees that are easier to grow for commercial purposes. Wild varieties contain a lot of seeds, making the processing of fruit pulp used in food and beverage manufacture more difficult. Cultivation has reduced the number of seeds, and some varieties have developed a very sweet flavor profile without the dreaded astringency of wild persimmon. Harvested fruits are shelf durable. The tree prefers light, sandy, well-drained soil, but will grow in rich southern bottom lands. The tree is greatly inclined to vary in the character and quality of its fruit, which varies in size from that of a large cherry to a small apple. Some trees in the south produce fruit that is delicious without the action of the frost, while adjoining trees produce fruit that never becomes edible. It was brought to England before 1629 and is cultivated, but rarely if ever ripens its fruit. It is easily raised from seed and can also be propagated from stolons, which are often produced in great quantity. The tree is hardy in the south of England and in the Channel Islands. The persimmon rarely develops any heartwood until it is nearly one hundred years old. Varieties Prok Killen Claypool I-115 Dollywood 100-42 100-43 100-45 Early Golden John Rick C-100 References External links The Perfectly Pleasing Persimmon (Dan Nickrent) Bioimages.vanderbilt.edu: Diospyros virginiana images Persimmonpudding.com - dedicated to growing, education, and use of Diospyros virginiana, the Common or American persimmon Treetrail.net: Diospyros virginiana (American Persimmon) Native Range Distribution Map virginiana Trees of the Northeastern United States Trees of the North-Central United States Trees of the Southern United States Trees of the Southeastern United States Trees of the South-Central United States Trees of the Great Lakes region (North America) Flora of the Appalachian Mountains Crops originating from the United States Plants used in Native American cuisine Native American cuisine of the Southeastern Woodlands Plants described in 1753 Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus Crops originating from