Persimmon (American), Meader, Bare Root

Meader Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana ‘Meader’)

Meader is an American persimmon selected for cold hardiness and the ability to fruit without a separate male tree. Its orange fruit becomes sweet and richly flavored when fully soft.

Key Characteristics

A ripe fruit with a soft, rich texture

The orange flesh loses its astringency as it becomes very soft. Use the pulp fresh or in baking rather than tasting firm fruit to judge flavor.

A single-tree option among native persimmons

Meader is a named fruit-bearing cultivar that can set seedless fruit without pollination. Nearby pollen can introduce seeds, but another tree is not essential to obtain fruit.

Native foliage and fruit support wildlife

American persimmon foliage can host luna moth caterpillars, while ripe fruit feeds mammals such as opossums and raccoons. Plan a harvest routine so usable fruit is collected before wildlife or spoilage takes it.

Pollination Partners

A fruit-bearing American cultivar that can set fruit without a separate male. Do not treat a second female fruiting cultivar as a guaranteed pollen source. Cross-pollination depends on overlapping bloom, not matching harvest months.

Rootstock and Mature Size

Plan for approximately 15–25 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 15–25 feet; see rootstock and pruning guidance above.
• Bloom: Late spring; small cream to white flowers.
• Fruit: Orange native persimmons with rich, sweet pulp when fully soft; astringent while firm.
• Uses: Soft fresh fruit, pudding, quick breads, pulp, and preserves.
• Ripening: September–October
• Chill hours: A reliable cultivar-specific chill-hour requirement has not been confirmed.
• Pollination: Self-fruitful named cultivar; no separate male required.
• USDA hardiness: Zones 4–9.

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.