Identifying Young Persimmon Trees: Male vs. Female Flowers

Recognizing a Persimmon Tree

A homeowner near Washington, DC noticed bell-shaped flowers on a young backyard tree and wondered if it was a fruit tree. Plant identification expert Shannon Pable confirmed it as a common persimmon (Diospyros virginiana).

Male vs. Female Flowers

Persimmon trees are dioecious—separate male and female trees. The photos show slender, bell-shaped flowers clustered on short stalks, characteristic of male flowers. Female flowers are solitary, larger, and have a more prominent calyx. Only female trees produce the edible fruit, and they require pollen from a male tree within pollination distance.

What This Means for Fruit Production

If this tree is indeed male, it will never bear fruit. To get persimmons, a female tree must be planted nearby. Alternatively, some cultivars like 'Meader' are self-fertile. If you want fruit, consider planting a grafted female cultivar or ensuring a male tree exists in the vicinity for cross-pollination.