Japanese Persimmon

Some 475 species of evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs belong to this mainly tropical genus, which occurs in N and S America, Africa, Asia, Australia, and S Europe. Some species are a source of valuable economy lumber. Others are grown for their fruit, including Diospyros lotus (date plum) and D. virginiana (persimmon), which are also ornamental. Commercially, persimmons are from D. kaki, now grown on a large scale in S Europe. It normally requires both male and female trees for successful fruiting, though hermaphrodite and dwarf cultivars are available for confined spaces. Diospyros kaki was first recorded in Chinese medicine c.CE720. It is a renowned cure for hiccups, taken with clove (Syzygium aromaticum, See, clove) and fresh ginger (Zingiber officinale, See, ginger). Diospyros virginiana was used as an astringent by native Americans and was listed in the U. S. Pharmacopoeia (1820-82)

Deciduous tree with glossy, ovate leaves, to 20cm (8in) long, turning orange-red and purple in autumn. Tiny bell-shaped pale yellow flowers, 1.5cm (½in) across, appear in summer; males in groups of 2-5; females solitary, followed by yellow to orange-red fruits, to 8cm (3in) across, which are extremely astringent when unripe.


Common Name:
Japanese Persimmon
Other Names:
Chinese Persimmon, Kaki
Botanical Name:
Diospyros kaki
Genus:
Diospyros
Family:
Ebenaceae
Native Location:
China
Cultivation:
Fertile, well-drained soil in sun, with shelter from cold winds and late frosts. Remove crowded or badly placed growths and cut back leaders by one-third during dormancy. Plants grown outdoors may be damaged by thrips, mealybugs, scale insects, fruit flies, and fungal leafspots. Spider mites and white fly may attack plants under cover. For successful fruiting, D. kaki requires one male tree to pollinate 8-10 female trees.
Propagation:
By seed sown when ripe; by grafting in winter.
Harvest:
Calyces are usually collected during flowering, and dried for decoctions. Fruits are gathered when unripe for juice, or ripe for using fresh, dried, or powdered as saccharum.
Height:
10m (30-50ft)
Width:
7m (22ft)
Hardiness:
Z6-9
Parts Used:
Calyces (shi di), fruits, juice, powder ("saccharum").
Properties:
An astringent, expectorant herb that checks bleeding and lowers blood pressure.
Medicinal Uses:
Internally for hiccups, internal bleeding (calyx), bronchial complaints (dried ripe fruits), dry coughs (saccharum), high blood pressure (juice of unripe fruit), constipation, hemorrhoids (raw ripe fruit), and diarrhea (cooked ripe fruit).
Culinary Uses:
Ripe fruits are eaten fresh, dried, or cooked in desserts, and used in making jam. Dried fruits are used in Korean punch, sujonggwa. Peel is powdered as a sweetener.
Bibliography:
Encyclopedia of Herbs by Deni Brown Copyright © 1995, 2001 Dorling Kindersley Limited Pg 195