Florida Native Persimmon Seedling Tree

The Florida Native Persimmon Seedling Tree is a long-living perennial fruit tree in the Ebenaceae family, alongside Black Sapote and Lotus Plum. Native to Florida, this wind resistant, frost tolerant treasure is prized among food forest growers. The tree features dark gray bark that ages into chunky blocks resembling checkerboards, and it bears sticky, sweet, sunset-orange fruits. In summer, deep green leaves form enormous canopies, sometimes up to 80 ft tall, offering shade and a striking silhouette.

The Florida Native Persimmon bears fruits ready to harvest when the skins are deep orange. The fruit’s flesh and skin share an orange-pumpkin color, with flavors reminiscent of pear, dates and brown sugar, with a hint of cinnamon. Texture ranges from crisp and succulent when young to tender and gelatinous as it matures. In fall, leaves turn burgundy and burnt orange before the fruit ripens. Leaves can be dried to make a vitamin-C tea; immature fruits can be boiled into a black, tannin-rich dye; seeds can be dried and used as a coffee substitute, though tannins may upset the belly. Seedlings take about 3-5 years to fruit.

📋 Product summary:

• Family and relatives: Ebenaceae; related to Black Sapote and Lotus Plum
• Native habitat and hardiness: Florida native; wind resistant and frost tolerant
• Fruit characteristics: sticky, sweet, sunset-orange skin and flesh; harvest when skins are deep orange
• Bark and appearance: dark gray bark that ages into chunky, checkerboard-like blocks
• Growth and foliage: deep green leaves; canopies up to 80 ft tall; fall colors burgundy and burnt orange
• Practical uses: leaves dried for vitamin-C tea; immature fruits for black tannin dye; seeds for coffee substitute (tannins may bother the belly)
• Flavor and texture: flavors resemble pear, dates, brown sugar with cinnamon; texture shifts from crisp to gelatinous as fruit ages
• Time to fruit: 3–5 years after planting