American persimmons (Diospyros virginiana) are small trees, native to eastern USA, doing best in hardiness zones 5 to 9. They are slow growing and make dense, hard, but beautifully patterned wood, with some specialty uses, like golf club heads or wood turnings. This gives them a second name, "American Ebony." These are coastal South Carolina ecotype, from wild-gathered fruits that ave been de-seeded by hand

The trees are prone to colonize cut-over forest as among the first new growth, and they will always remain an understory tree in older forests. Once they are shaded, fruit production is much reduced.

The tree is a larval host plant for Luna moths, the Hickory Horndevil, and other moths and butterflies.

The blossoms are pollinated by bees. There are separate male trees and female trees. If you have one that does not bear fruit, it could be a male, which only produces pollen to fertilize the female flowers.

When well pollinated, the flowers turn into a reddish-brown to orange fruit that contains up to six seeds. Poorly pollinated fruits have fewer seeds and may be undersized.

It's a myth that the fruit must have frost before they sweeten, at least in the South,where some fruits are ready to eat in September, when frost is a month or two away. They are very astringent when unripe (hard), and quite unpleasant to taste, but they are delicious when ready. When the fruit ripens, it will darken in color, get soft, the skin will wrinkle, and the calix will easily pull off. Once they become ripe, they are prone to drop, and animals, like birds, small mammals, white-tailed deer, foxes, raccoons, and black bears. . Deer also may browse the leaves and twigs.

They are a traditional food that can be used in pastries, cookies, or made into persimmon pudding. Older folks may remember these being a part of Thanksgiving or Christmas celebrations.They are rare on the market because they don't travel or store well, but when you have your own, you find that they have much more flavor than their Asian cousins. They can be preserved, though by freezing or drying.

The fruits are antioxidant, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory. Due to their high fiber content, are a perfect snack for improving gut health. The Latin genus name translates to “food of the gods.”

The trees require little pruning and no spraying, as pests are uncommon. If you have space for a small tree, they are perfect for your pollinator and wildlife garden. They aren't fussy as to soil type, and are very tolerant of acid soil and occasional drought. They do not like wet soils.