nursery

Unique Asian-American Crosses
NIKITA’S GIFT TM NEW! Almost as hardy
as the American persimmon and almost
as large as the Asian, Nikita’s large
crops of 2-1/2”, flattish, red-orange fruit
are certainly gifts. When fully ripe and
soft, this hybrid persimmon is sweet and
flavorful. Fall foliage is a gorgeous orange
color. From Nikita Botanic Garden in Yalta.
It is self-fertile. On D. virginiana rootstock.
D224: $39.95 each
American Persimmons
MEADER An American
persimmon that is reliably
self-fertile. From fruit breeder
Elwyn Meader of New
Hampshire. These grafted
trees are upright growing,
very cold hardy, and among
the first to ripen, even in areas
with cool summers. D255:
$39.95 each
PRAIRIE STAR TM NEW! An
early-ripening American
persimmon that sets large
crops of very sweet fruit. It’s
self-fertile. D228: $39.95 each
GARRETSON One of the best American Persimmon varieties,
Garretson bears heavy crops of sweet, high quality fruit.
Garretson ripens early and is very hardy and easy to grow.
Needs a male persimmon pollenizer (D230). On D. virginiana
rootstock.D219: $39.95 each
MALE AMERICAN The male is a beautiful tree but doesn’t
produce fruit. It will pollinate all American female persimmons.
On D. virginiana rootstock.D230: $36.50 each
Northerners Can Grow American Persimmons
Meader grafted American Persimmon trees grow much
larger than Asian varieties and the fruit is smaller. However
the Americans usually ripen earlier and the trees are
much more winter hardy. The fruit is astringent until fully
ripe. Zones 5-9. All Americans are on D. virginiana rootstock.
We cannot ship American persimmons to California.
MT. ASH HYBRIDS
These are beautiful, unusual upright hardy
trees with large glossy compound leaves.
Bred by famed Russian plant breeder Ivan
Michurin. Each is self-fertile. USDA Zones
3-8. 3-5’ trees.
IVAN’S BEAUTY TM (Sorbus aucuparia x
Aronia) Sweet-tart, small, wine-red fruit,
prized for making wine, jelly and sauces,
cover this small beautiful 12-15’-tall yard tree. D710: $24.95
each
IVANS BELLE TM (Sorbus aucuparia x Craetagus) An attractive
tree from the Ukraine. The 15’ tree has large, glossy compound
leaves and produces loads of tart, ½”, wine red fruit that is
prized for making wine, jelly or sauces. D711: $24.95 each
EDIBLE HAWTHORN
RED SUN CHINESE HAW (Crataegus
pinnatifida) An attractive species of small
12’ tall trees from northern China with 1”
diameter fruit which turn red when ripe.
This fruit is tasty when eaten fresh, dried, or
used to make syrups, preserves or candies.
USDA Zones 4-9. Self-fertile. 3 to 5 feet
trees. D163: $24.95 each
TEXAS SUPERBERRY (Crataegus aestivalis) Mayhaws are a
group of hawthorns, native to the U.S. that produce small tasty
crab apple like fruit that is famous for making a delicious jelly.
The attractive tree grows to 15’ and has pretty white self fertile
flowers. It blooms very early, making fruit set only occasional
in areas with late spring frosts. Warren Superberry was found
in Texas by famed horticulturist T. O. Warren. It produces heavy
crops of red berries used in pie, jelly or juice. 3 to 5 feet trees.
D164: $24.95 each
Note on Delayed Leafing Persimmons
Don’t worry! Because persimmons, unlike most plants,
break dormancy based on heat units, not chilling hours,
many newly planted persimmon trees don’t come out of
dormancy the first season, in a cool spring and summer climate
like the Pacific NW, until summer or even fall. A bare
root tree could be simply planted in the ground or could be
potted to provide more heat for the roots and then unpotted
and planted just after it started to leaf. Planting instructions
are included with each tree.
Using Persimmons
IN THE LANDSCAPE: A beautiful ornamental,
the large glossy leaves turn
bright orange-red each autumn. After
the leaves fall, the orange fruit hangs
like many lanterns on the tree.
SUN OR SHADE: Persimmons can tolerate
some shade but Asian varieties, in
particular, require a sunny location to
ripen the fruit.
PLANT HEIGHT & SPACING: 15’ for
Asians, 35’ for Americans though they
are easily maintained at 15’.
HARVEST TIME: Oct.-Nov. Fuyu and
Hachiya, because of longer ripening
time, often don’t ripen in Western WA.
but thrive in the Willamette Valley and
other areas with warmer summers.
Americans ripen in October.
PICKING & STORAGE: Pick astringent
varieties after they color up and allow
the fruit to soften and become “mushy’
inside before you can enjoy the sweet
flavor. The American cultivars are all
astringent. Non-astringent selections
are delicious even when eaten while the
fruit is ripe but firm. Non astringent firm
“apple type persimmons” are the most
popular in Japan. They do need thinning
to increase fruit size.
POLLINATION: Asian persimmons produce
seedless fruit without pollination.
Americans, except Meader, usually need
a male for pollination.
YEARS TO FIRST FRUIT: 2-3 years for
grafted trees.
SOIL REQUIREMENTS: Persimmons
are adapted to a wide variety of soil
types. They are tolerant of wet soils and
also do well on light sandy soils. Once
established, they can withstand some
drought.
CULTURAL REQUIREMENTS: They have
almost no pest or disease problems.
The tree can be kept small with judicious
pruning. Use a modified central
leader. Pruning should be confined to
light thinning and heading back excessively
vigorous growth. Persimmons
flower and bear fruit on the current
season’s growth.
60 Order online at www.RaintreeNursery.com or call 1-800-391-8892.