Kaki (Diospyros kaki 'Fuyu'), also known as Japanese persimmon or Oriental persimmon, is a deciduous tree native to India, Burma, China, and Korea that has been widely cultivated in Japan for centuries. This is the very tree whose cultivars produce the persimmons sold in supermarkets today, earning it a place as one of the world's most important fruit trees. Growing 20 to 30 feet tall with a rounded, spreading crown, it thrives in Zones 7 through 10 (though it performs best in Zones 8 to 10) and offers dual appeal: gorgeous ornamental features and edible, showy fruit. Plant it in full sun with moderate water needs, and it will reward you with a low-maintenance tree that handles drought well once established.
Full Sun
Moderate
7-10
360in H x 360in W
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Moderate
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The kaki tree is celebrated equally for its fruit and its beauty. Oval to obovate leaves reach 6 inches long and create a lovely canopy, while the edible persimmons provide both visual drama and culinary reward. It has no serious insect or disease problems for home gardeners, making it remarkably trouble-free despite its commercial importance. The tree's ability to thrive across a range of soil types, from deep, moist loams to sandy soils, gives it surprising flexibility in the garden.
Kaki is grown primarily for its edible persimmons, which are enjoyed fresh and used in desserts, preserves, and traditional dishes across Asia and increasingly worldwide. The tree also serves as an ornamental specimen, valued for its attractive form and the visual drama of its colorful fruit. Its natural spreading habit makes it suitable for naturalization in larger landscapes where its rounded crown and drooping outer branches can develop fully.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Harvest persimmons when they reach mature size and color, typically in late fall. The fruit will signal ripeness through color development and should yield slightly to gentle pressure. Handle carefully during harvest, as falling fruit creates litter on the ground below.
Kaki develops naturally into a rounded, spreading form with outer branches that may droop gracefully. Prune primarily to remove root suckers unless you prefer a naturalized, multi-trunked appearance. Otherwise, minimal pruning is needed; the tree's natural habit provides excellent ornamental structure without aggressive intervention.
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“Kaki originates from Asia, spanning India, Burma, China, and Korea, where it has been cultivated for thousands of years as both a food source and ornamental tree. Its prominence in Japan made it so integral to Asian horticulture that cultivars of this single species now supply the persimmons found in supermarkets worldwide. This is not a newly bred hybrid but rather a tree whose importance was recognized and refined across centuries of cultivation, making it a bridge between ancient agricultural traditions and modern global fruit commerce.”