Diospyros texana Common Names: Texas Persimmon, Mexican Persimmon, Black Persimmon, Chapote, Chapote Prieto Texas Persimmon is a shrub or small tree with sturdy wood and a multiple-trunk setup. Typically, it reaches heights of 10 to 15 feet, but in southern regions, it can stretch up to 35 feet in ideal conditions. You’ll often find it in brushy areas, on gentle uplands, rocky hillsides, and lower slopes. The thin bark of the Texas Persimmon is a light gray to white shade, often peeling into rectangular flakes to reveal a pinkish layer underneath. Its leaves can grow up to 2 inches long, though most are around half that size, featuring smooth edges and a slightly notched or rounded tip that tapers at the base. The flowers are dainty and whitish, appearing singly or in small clusters among fresh new leaves. In March and April, both male and female plants produce flowers. The edible fruits from the female trees, which are fleshy and round, can reach up to 1 inch in diameter, turning a lovely black and sweet when ripe, with harvesting time spanning from late July to September. A nearby male plant is usually necessary to successfully pollinate a female plant. The fruits carry a flavor reminiscent of prunes, making them a favorite among many birds and mammals. Additionally, the dark fruit juice can be used as a natural dye. This plant is incredibly drought-tolerant and disease-resistant, perfect for cozy spaces in full sun. The tree is generally deciduous in the areas north of the Rio Grande Valley, especially where winters can get chilly. From this valley southward, it generally becomes semi-deciduous to evergreen, shedding its leaves all at once in early spring, just like live oaks, without leaving a bare period. The heartwood, which you’ll find only in larger trunks, reveals a striking black color, while the sapwood maintains a lovely clear yellow shade. Nectar Source: Butterflies, Bees Fruit Food Source: Birds, Mammals, especially Peccaries (Javelinas) Larval Host: Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), Henry’s Elfin Butterfly (Callyophrys henrici) BONAP MAPHeight: 20’-40’Spread 15’-25’Bloom: February-April Light: Full Sun-Part ShadeWater: Low Zone: 7-9Origin: Texas, Southwestern U.S., Northeastern Mexico
