This sun-loving perennial beauty bears sweet black fruit in late summer for you and the wildlife to enjoy.
Many times, nature is not balanced and gives many virtues to a single plant. This is exactly what happened to Texas persimmon.
This perennial shrub (or small tree) is extremely drought tolerant and an excellent choice for decorating our gardens. Its bark is a smooth, steely gray color and the leaves are small, thick, and covered with tiny hairs. Although it’s slow growing, Texas persimmon can eventually reach 20 feet tall.
In spring, Texas persimmon boasts branches covered in small white flowers that develop into hundreds of one-inch fruits that cover the tree in late summer. The very sweet black fruit (similar to figs or prunes in taste) can be consumed fresh or used to make jelly. Myriad species of birds and mammals love the fruit, which is also used in many places around Mexico to dye leather. (The dark purple fruit can also stain driveways and decks.)
Texas persimmon reproduces mainly by seed and enjoys mostly sunny spots with good drainage, but it’s not very demanding since it will resist onslaughts of both heat and poor nutrient soils.
If you have a nice open space in the sun where other plants have said no, give this tough Texan a chance to put the sun and drought in their place.
