Wild ForageCaution

American persimmon

Diospyros virginiana

Also called: possumwood

Native tree with blocky bark and sweet orange fruit that is only edible when fully ripe.

American persimmon: Whole plant — Whole plantPhoto: Brandon · CC0 · source

American persimmon: Fruit or seed — Fruit or seedPhoto: Woodlot ( talk ) 21:14, 29 August 2010 (UTC) · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source

American persimmon: Habitat — HabitatPhoto: Jean-Pol GRANDMONT · CC BY 3.0 · source

Confirm EVERY point before you eat it

Bark broken into deep, square, alligator-hide blocks
Alternate, smooth-edged, oval leaves with a pointed tip
Round orange to purple-brown fruit, 1-2 in, with a four-lobed cap attached
Ripe fruit is soft, wrinkled and sweet

0 of 4 confirmed. If any point does not match, it is not this plant.

Warnings

Unripe fruit is extremely astringent and, in quantity, can cause a stomach blockage. Eat only fully ripe fruit.

In season

Ripens October-November, often after frost.

Habitat

Old fields, fencerows, open woods, roadsides.

Parts used

fruit

Preparation and use

Fresh, or pulp for baking and pudding.

Harvest note

Gather from the ground once soft; leave firm fruit alone.

Educational reference only. Never eat a wild plant or mushroom based on a website or app. Confirm with an experienced forager, your local extension office, or a mycological club. Poison Control (US): 1-800-222-1222. Call 911 for severe symptoms.