The Ripening Myth about Native Persimmons

2 to 3” wide Persimmons that all drop ripe in September in Zone 6.

There's a common repeated myth about Native Persimmons ( Diospyros virginiana ). It's that they require frost to finish ripening. The most important thing to understand about Persimmons in states north of Tennessee, Arkansas, and North Carolina is that many of the present persimmons are sourced from more southernly genetics. Persimmons of southern genetics when planted too far north do not mature their fruit properly. For example; persimmon trees that drop 100% of their crops in September and October fully ripe in Southwest Ohio are “on time” and follow the pattern of local wild occurring persimmons which by the way is before frost. The persimmons pictured were collected in early September, well before any frost, fully ripe. Persimmons with genetic origins in the deeper south often have green or half-orange colored fruits deep into September and October in the north. Many of these southern persimmons do not mature their fruit at all when planted up north, resulting in astringent (unripe) fruit that lingers on the branches into January. The same failed fruit maturity phenomena can be observed with northern origin vs southern origin Pecans and northern origin vs southern origin Passionflowers. Pecans can mature crops a bit north of Chicago region and in the east - Pennsyvania when genetics are of northern origin and Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) naturally grows as far north as New Jersey.

So for states in the northern portion of the native range of persimmons; if you find persimmons dropping to the ground in August, September, and early October then you know you've found a locally adapted persimmon. But if you find that the persimmons are still hanging onto the tree deep into the fall, it is likely a persimmon that was planted from southernly genetics or a seedling of a southern genetic persimmon. In the south these southern sourced trees have a longer growing season which allows them to fully mature their fruit before frost. When moved north the trees still grow their fruit as if they will have a long growing season to mature fruit - causing the phenomena of persimmons not dropping from the trees ripe and on time in the north. The misconception of persimmons needing frost is actually southern persimmons planted north of their origin - needing more growing season time to ripen their fruit. Frost or freezing doesn't actually change the ripeness of the fruit.

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Northern Pecans, Persimmons, and Passionflowers

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940 seeds from Zone 6 and 5 adapted Pecans from Central Missouri, Central Indiana, and Chicago Illinois - to be propagated into trees.

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A simple eating guide to consuming the native Passionflower fruits (Passiflora incarnata). These seeds will also be propagated in our nursery.

Indigenous Landscapes has collected via purchase and donation; pecan seeds from Central Missouri, Central Indiana, and Chicago. This is the beginning of a proven northern adapted pecan breeding grove, though most of the resulting saplings from this seed collection will be sold through Indigenous Landscapes fall of 2020 to support our land purchases that will promote native plant agriculture. Like Passionflowers and Persimmons; Pecans with genetic origin from too deep in the south don’t fruit or flower correctly when planted in northern zones (4,5,6). But naturally Passionflowers, Pecans, and Persimmons have northern populations that are locally adapted and it is these populations that fruit and flower on time to be productive in northern climates. So when you find a planted or wild Passionflower or Pecan that is maturing its fruit correctly in these zones, what you have is genetic expression that can be cultivated into a breeding grove of sorts to produce more northern adapted plants. Whether the intention is for Native Plant Agriculture (NPA) or wildlife support, the northern adapted strains are the best strains to benefit your project.

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From Top to bottom these pecans were produced in 1. Indianapolis, Indiana 2. Central Missouri 3. Central Missouri 4. Central Missouri and 5. Chicago, Illinois.

In our particular breeding grove we won’t be mixing Missouri adapted genetics with the Chicago and Indianapolis born pecans as the more northern born pecans have better potential of being productive in Zone 5 where as the Missouri adapted genetics are more likely to be most productive in Zone 6 and 7. When we ship our saplings out fall of 2020, Zone 6 and 7 customers will get a mix of the Missouri genetics and zone 5 customers will get a mix of the Chicago and Indianapolis genetics. Years from now, people throughout zone 5 through 7 will have locally adapted pecans and will be able to continue on the selection process if they’re interested. Each year we’ll introduce more pecans from different populations found within zones 5 and 6 to invigorate the gene pool.

The same process will be repeated with Passionflower, mixing genetics of zone 6 fruiting Passionflowers for either wildlife value or native plant agriculture saving a few for our local breeding patch and shipping the majority out for sale each fall.

We’ve already begun this process with Common Persimmon as well, collecting from persimmons that drop their entire fruit crop fully ripe in August and September which are zone 5 and zone 6 adapted persimmons. The persimmons that get stuck up in the tree into the winter in these northern zones are also from southern genetic origin which causes the tree to go dormant before the fruit are fully ripe. The most productive persimmons for wildlife or native plant agriculture in zones 5 and 6 are of northern genetic origin with fruit that fall fully ripe to the ground before the tree goes dormant.

In these simple ways of evaluating, creating viable seed strains of northern adapted pecans, persimmons, and passionflowers is not difficult.

Common Persimmons (Diospyros virginiana) showing northern adaptation by dropping their full crop fully ripe in September before the frost even threatens.

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Passionflower fruit fully ripe in late September, showing northern adaptation.

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