Practical
Plants

Diospyros texanum

Black Persimmon

a perennial woody member of the Diospyros genus in the family Ebenaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Ebenaceae
Life cycle
perennial
Woodiness
woody
Height
12 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Fruit - raw. The fruits, which are about 20mm in diameter are sweet and tasty when fully ripe[7][8]. There are no edible uses listed for Diospyros texanum.

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A black dye can be obtained from the juice of the fruit[2][5]. Wood - heavy, hard, compact, takes a high polish[2]. It is used for making tools, engraving blocks etc[2].

Environment

Range
Southern N. America - Texas and New Mexico.
Habitat
Rocky hills, ravine sides and canyons, often on limestone[2].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe[1][4]. Stored seed requires a period of cold-stratification and should be sown as early in the year as possible[6]. It usually germinates in 1 - 6 months at 15°c[3]. Pot up the young seedlings as soon as they are large enough to handle into fairly deep pots and plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer. Give them some protection from winter cold for their first year or two outdoors. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[4]. Layering in spring[4].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

257201

References

  1. Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009

    ↩

  2. Vines. R. A. Trees of Central Texas. University of Texas Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0-292-78958-3

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  3. Bird. R. (Editor) Focus on Plants. Volume 5. (formerly 'Growing from seed') Thompson and Morgan. 1991-00-00

    ↩

  4. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

  5. Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas Botanical Research Institute, Texas. 1999-00-00 http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/bio/gdiggs/NCTXpdf.htm

    ↩

  6. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩

  7. Vines. R. A. Trees of Central Texas. University of Texas Press ISBN 0-292-78958-3 (1987-00-00)

    ↩

  8. Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J [Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas] Botanical Research Institute, Texas. (1999-00-00)

    ↩

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