Persimmon (Asian), Chocolate, Bare Root

Chocolate Persimmon (Diospyros kaki ‘Tsurunoko’)

Chocolate is a pollination-variant Asian persimmon grown for rich flavor and cinnamon-brown flesh in pollinated fruit. It can also supply pollen for Coffee Cake, making the pair useful in a planned persimmon planting.

Key Characteristics

Pollination changes the inside of the fruit

Pollinated, seeded fruit develops the characteristic brown flesh and a sweet, spicy flavor. Unpollinated fruit may stay pale inside and remain astringent until fully soft.

Check ripeness rather than relying on the name

The name describes flesh color, not a chocolate flavor guarantee. If a fruit remains pale or puckery, let it soften fully before eating.

A useful pollen-bearing cultivar

Chocolate can bear both male and female flowers and is used as a pollen source for Coffee Cake. That makes it different from female-only fruiting cultivars that cannot supply orchard pollen.

Pollination Partners

Chocolate can set fruit without another tree, but pollination influences seed formation, flesh color, and when the fruit loses astringency. It bears pollen-producing flowers and is the recommended partner for Coffee Cake; do not assume Coffee Cake reliably supplies pollen back to Chocolate. 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-red skin; pollinated fruit develops cinnamon-brown, rich, sweet flesh; pale fruit may remain astringent until soft.
• Uses: Fresh eating at the appropriate ripe stage, drying, and desserts.
• Ripening: October–November
• Chill hours: Approximately 200 hours.
• Pollination: Self-fruitful; pollination affects flesh color and astringency. Supplies pollen for Coffee Cake.
• USDA hardiness: Zones 7–10.

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.