Yates American Persimmon Tree

Yates American Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana ‘Yates’) is a fast-growing native persimmon originally discovered in Indiana, ripening earlier than most other American persimmon varieties — early September fruit with a rich, sweet flavor and distinctive apricot-like notes that make it genuinely different from the more neutral sweetness of standard wild American persimmon. Self-pollinating, cold-hardy to Zone 4, heat-tolerant through Zone 10, pest and disease resistant, and growing into a beautiful 35-50 foot native shade tree with glossy green foliage and brilliant orange fall fruit. Grown in EZ Start® pots, bears in 3-4 years.

Early September Ripening — Apricot-Like Flavor Notes

Yates ripens ahead of most American persimmon varieties, with early September fruit that arrives while other named selections are still weeks from peak. The flavor at full soft ripeness is genuinely distinctive: rich and sweet with apricot-like notes that give it more complexity and character than the blander sweetness of wild seedling trees. Outstanding for fresh eating at peak softness, baking into persimmon pudding and cookies, preserves, and drying for concentrated flavor.

Indiana Origin — Zone 4 to Zone 10 Adaptability

Yates’s extraordinary Zone 4-10 adaptability is one of its most practically valuable qualities. From the coldest Zone 4 northern gardens through the warmest Zone 10 southern climates, Yates performs reliably across a range of conditions that few fruiting trees can match. The Indiana origin reflects cold-climate breeding, and the heat and humidity tolerance extends that performance south and west across virtually the entire continental United States.

Fast-Growing Native Shade Tree — Pest and Disease Resistant

American persimmon is one of the most genuinely low-maintenance native fruiting trees available, and Yates takes that further with its fast growth rate and strong pest and disease resistance. The 35-50 foot mature tree is as valuable as a landscape specimen as it is for fruit production, with glossy green summer foliage, brilliant orange fall fruit, and wildlife value that extends the tree’s contribution to the local ecosystem through the colder months.

Why Growers Choose Yates American Persimmon

• Early September ripening — ahead of most other American persimmon varieties
• Apricot-like flavor notes — rich, sweet, and distinctively complex at full soft ripeness
• Indiana origin, Zone 4-10 adaptability — one of the widest zone ranges of any fruiting tree
• Fast-growing native shade tree — 35-50 feet, pest and disease resistant
• Astringent until fully soft — harvest after frost or allow to fully soften before eating
• EZ Start® roots, self-pollinating, bears in 3-4 years — strong establishment, no companion needed