Persimmon (Asian), Saijo, Bare Root

Saijo Persimmon (Diospyros kaki ‘Saijo’)

Saijo is an Asian persimmon prized for the flavor of its elongated orange fruit. It is an astringent type, becoming very sweet only when the flesh is fully soft.

Key Characteristics

Flavor matters more than fruit size

Saijo’s fruit is smaller than Hachiya or Giant Fuyu but has a rich, sweet flavor when ripe. Wait for a soft, tender texture before fresh eating.

Useful for drying and autumn desserts

The elongated fruit is convenient for drying, while soft pulp works in baked dishes and preserves. Check ripeness carefully because orange skin can develop before astringency disappears.

A single-tree fruiting option

Saijo can set fruit without another cultivar. Its fall color and fruit make it useful in an edible landscape, with ordinary monitoring for scale and leaf spots.

Pollination Partners

Self-fruitful; another tree is not required. Its predominantly female flowers should not be counted on as a pollen source for Coffee Cake or other pollination-variant cultivars. 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: Small elongated yellow-orange fruit; rich, very sweet flesh when fully soft; astringent while firm.
• Uses: Soft fresh fruit, drying, pulp, baking, and preserves.
• Ripening: September–October
• Chill hours: Approximately 200 hours.
• Pollination: Self-fruitful; no separate pollen tree required.
• 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.