Diospyros lotus

The Lotus Persimmon, also commonly known as the Date-Plum or Lilac Persimmon, is a species of Persimmon native to Southeastern Europe and Southwestern Asia. Trees have been cultivated in the Caucasus region for thousands of years and its edible fruit has been described in Homer’s Odyssey and in Greek and Roman mythology. Lotus Persimmon fruit are small, very sweet, lightly tart, and non-astringent and can be enjoyed fresh, cooked, or dried. When preserved, they have a flavor similar to dates or to stewed plums, which garners the plant the common name “Date-Plum”.

Trees can grow to reach sixty feet, although a height of thirty feet is more common. Lotus Persimmon is a winter deciduous species that has male and female plants, both of which are required for fruit production. Plants have attractive, dark green, glossy foliage that turn vibrant shades of yellow, orange, and red in the Autumn as the tree enters dormancy. Like other Persimmon species, the wood of the Lotus Persimmon is extraordinarily hard and trees are long-lived and wind-resistant. While native to a Mediterranean climate, this species is adaptable to many cultural conditions and is easy to grow. Full sun and regular moisture will ensure good growth and fruit production.

Cold hardy to USDA Zone 5a or to -20 degrees Fahrenheit

For sale are packets of 15 seeds