Persimmon (American), Prok, Bare Root

Prok Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana ‘Prok’)

Prok is an American persimmon selected for unusually large fruit and good eating quality. It is a named fruiting cultivar that can produce without a separate male tree.

Key Characteristics

Larger fruit makes pulp preparation easier

Prok’s size is a useful difference from many wild American persimmons. Fully soft fruit provides sweet pulp for desserts, breads, and preserves.

Ripeness removes astringency

The fruit needs to soften completely before eating fresh. A frost is not necessary, and firm orange fruit can still be sharply puckery.

A native tree with living relationships

American persimmon leaves support luna moth larvae, and ripe fruit is eaten by opossums, raccoons, and other wildlife. Keep access for harvesting and decide where fallen fruit can be shared.

Pollination Partners

A female fruit-bearing cultivar capable of setting fruit without pollination. A separate male is not required for this named selection; a second female cultivar does not create a pollen source. Cross-pollination depends on overlapping bloom, not matching harvest months.

Rootstock and Mature Size

Plan for approximately 20–30 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 20–30 feet; see rootstock and pruning guidance above.
• Bloom: Late spring; small cream to white flowers.
• Fruit: Large orange native persimmons with sweet, richly flavored pulp when fully soft.
• Uses: Soft fresh fruit, pulp, pudding, quick breads, 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 5–9.

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.