Persimmon (Hybrid), Nikitas Gift, Bare Root

Nikita’s Gift Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana × D. kaki ‘Nikitskaya Bordovaya’)

Nikita’s Gift is an American–Asian hybrid persimmon with reddish-orange fruit and rich flavor. It combines a smaller garden-tree habit with fruit that should be allowed to soften fully before eating.

Key Characteristics

A hybrid with a soft-ripe harvest

The fruit is astringent while firm and becomes sweet and tender as it ripens. Its pulp works fresh and in baked desserts.

A moderate-sized tree with fall color

Nikita’s Gift can be kept smaller through careful structural pruning. Orange-yellow foliage and colored fruit add a useful autumn display in an edible landscape.

Self-fruitful, with more hardiness than many Asian types

A separate pollen tree is not required for fruit set. Its hybrid background improves cold tolerance relative to many Asian persimmons, but young trees still benefit from a sheltered site.

Pollination Partners

Self-fruitful; no separate male or second cultivar is required. This is a fruit-bearing hybrid, not a guaranteed pollen source for other persimmons. Cross-pollination depends on overlapping bloom, not matching harvest months.

Rootstock and Mature Size

Plan for approximately 12–20 feet at maturity, depending on site and pruning. The offered variant identifies the rootstock; keep the graft union above soil level and remove rootstock suckers.

Product Details

• Sun: Full sun to light partial shade; full sun is best for fruiting.
• Soil: medium to medium-dry, well-drained soil; avoid standing water.
• Mature height: Approximately 12–20 feet; see rootstock and pruning guidance above.
• Bloom: Late spring; small cream to white flowers.
• Fruit: Reddish-orange fruit with rich, sweet pulp when fully soft; astringent while firm.
• Uses: Soft fresh fruit, pulp, pudding, quick breads, and preserves.
• Ripening: October–November
• Chill hours: A reliable cultivar-specific chill-hour requirement has not been confirmed.
• Pollination: Self-fruitful; no separate pollen tree required.
• USDA hardiness: Zones 6–9.

General Persimmon Orchard Guidance

A good start

Choose well-drained soil and enough room for the mature tree. Water consistently while roots establish, mulch with space around the trunk, and keep vigorous grass and other competitors away from the young root zone.

Fertility and fruit-tree guilds

Use a soil test to guide lime and fertilizer rather than feeding heavily by default. Our Tree Planting Kit fertilizer blend is an optional planting supplement; keep concentrated fertilizer away from bare roots and avoid excess nitrogen.

Interested in permaculture and stacking functions around your fruit trees? Explore our fruit-tree guild guide for ideas on combining plants for flowers, ground cover, and mulch while giving your tree room to grow.

Practical pest and disease care

Water young trees consistently and avoid overfeeding; vigorous growth or heavy crops can encourage fruit drop. Prune lightly for structure, remove damaged fruit, and monitor for scale, leaf spots, and browsing. Protect young trunks and support heavily loaded branches as needed.