Oriole™ persimmon tree is a Korean cultivar, selected for its large, deep orange fruit and consistently excellent flavour. When fully ripe, the flesh becomes very soft and smooth with a rich, honeyed sweetness and a mild, almost caramel-like depth. Fruit are well suited for fresh eating, as well as baking and preserves. Oriole™ is appreciated for reliable crops that ripen early, producing high-quality fruit that develops good sweetness even in shorter coastal seasons. The fruit is astringent until fully soft, so it must be allowed to ripen fully before eating — once softened, the tannins disappear and the flavour becomes balanced and sweet. Oriole™ is a female cultivar, with female flowers, that will produce seedless fruit without male flowers nearby. When pollinated by male flowers, the flesh of the fruit develops a distinctive dark brown to nearly black colour with a richer, sweeter flavour; unpollinated fruit remain lighter in colour. Pollinated fruit may contain seeds. The trees are moderately vigorous, typically maturing around 10–12 feet tall with a manageable canopy that responds well to pruning. Oriole™ has become popular with home growers looking for a productive tree with traditional soft-flesh persimmon character and strong eating quality. Common names: Oriole™ Persimmon, Asian Persimmon, Japanese Persimmon, Oriental Persimmon, Kaki Persimmon Edible: FruitHarvest timing: October-November Scientific name: Diospyros kaki 'Black Flesh' Light requirements: Full sunFull-grown size: 10-12' tall x 8-10' wideHardiness: Zone 7Pollination: Capable of setting fruit without pollination (parthenocarpic), which means you only need one tree to get fruit. Wildlife: Not deer resistant. Wildlife attracted to fruit.Origin: KoreaNoteworthy: Excellent fresh eating quality.
