Japanese persimmon Plant Care

Japanese persimmon (Diospyros kaki) belongs to the Ebenaceae family within the Diospyros genus. Japanese persimmon is native to China. Japanese persimmon is also known as kaki fruit.

Japanese persimmon displays an upright, spreading growth habit, reaching up to 30 ft tall with a spread of approximately 30 ft. Japanese persimmon produces inconspicuous and small, with bell-shaped white to creamy yellow petals.

Leaf size: approximately 5 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Japanese persimmon every 7–14 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established trees mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Japanese persimmon thrives in full sun.

Diospyros kaki tolerates temperatures of 50–90°F. Japanese persimmon prefers humidity levels of 40–80%.

well-drained, loamy soil. Good drainage is essential for Japanese persimmon to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Japanese persimmon every month during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established trees in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with full sun and well-drained, loamy soil. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Japanese persimmon is suited to USDA Zone 7a – 10b.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped trees in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Japanese persimmon can spread to about 30 ft (9.1 m) and reach about 30 ft (9 m) tall. Space plants about 30 ft (9.1 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the tree spacing calculator.

Prune Japanese persimmon while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the tree in one year.

Japanese persimmon is hardy down to USDA zone 7a, so once established it can stay outdoors through winter in that zone and warmer ones.

Water deeply in late autumn before the ground freezes, and spread a 5–8 cm (2–3 in) layer of mulch over the root zone, keeping it away from the trunk.

Young and container-grown trees need extra protection: roots in a pot freeze much more easily than roots in the ground.

Japanese persimmon can be propagated through by seed or grafting. Similar propagation techniques also apply to indonesian ebony plant care, which shares the same genus.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

Japanese persimmon is susceptible to aphids, scale insects, caterpillars. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Japanese persimmon grows outdoors in USDA Zone 7a – 10b. It survives winters down to planting zone 7a. Japanese persimmon is native to China.