PERSIMMONS (Diospyros kaki)

The Persimmon is a moderately growing fruit tree. It can grow up to 20 feet tall with an equal spread. Jiro is a non-astringent type, so it can be eaten immediately after picking. The fruit is medium sized with a flat shape. When ripe, the fruit is orange-yellow in color.

Prefers a good deep loamy soil in sun or light shade but succeeds in most soils. Dislikes very acid or wet and poorly drained soils. Requires a sheltered position. Dormant plants are quite hardy in Britain, tolerating temperatures down to about -14°c, but they require warmer summers than are normally experienced in Britain in order to ripen their fruit and wood. The young growth in spring, even on mature plants, is frost-tender and so it is best to grow the plants in a position sheltered from the early morning sun. A warm sunny wall improves the chance of producing ripe fruit and trees fruit freely when grown under glass.

It's a tree very well adapted to the Mediterranean climate.