Common Name: Black Persimmon

General Information

Diospyros texana is a shrub or a tree that can grow from 3 - 15 metres tall. Deciduous in the north of its range, further south the leaves can become persistent[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of materials.
Diospyros texana has a very wide distribution, large population, is not currently experiencing any major threats and no significant future threats have been identified. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2022)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southern N. America - Texas and northeast Mexico.

Habitat

Rocky hills, ravine sides and canyons, often on limestone[]. Open woodlands of bottomlands, prairie margins, rocky hillsides; at elevations up to 1,800 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	12.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

The leaves fall very late in the season[].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[].
Plants can producing fruit when around 5 - 6 years old[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw. The black fruits, which are about 15 - 25mm in diameter, are sweet and tasty when fully ripe[, , , ].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

A black dye can be obtained from the juice of the fruit[, ].

The black wood is heavy, hard and compact. It takes a high polish. It is used for making tools, engraving blocks etc[, , ]. The heartwood turns dark sooner than in Diospyros virginiana, however the small size of the stems limits its use[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe[, ]. Stored seed requires a period of cold-stratification and should be sown as early in the year as possible[]. It usually germinates in 1 - 6 months at 15°c[]. Pot up the young seedlings as soon as they are large enough to handle into fairly deep pots and plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer. Give them some protection from winter cold for their first year or two outdoors.
When the seeds are washed free of fruit pulp they usually germinate readily, but seeds covered with intact fruit do not. The fruit apparently contains an inhibitor[].
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, mid summer in a frame[].
Layering in spring[].