American Persimmons–‘Fruit of the Gods’

Guest post writer today is Mark Webber of Webber Landscape in Dayton, Ohio.  Mark also hosts a radio program, ‘GardenTalk’ on WHIO radio, AM1290.  Mark has had the premier gardening talk show in our area for twenty two years, and I am pleased to have him as a guest.

Plant of the Day "American Persimmon" aka "Fruit of the Gods"

• Originally Posted by Mark Webber on January 18, 2012 at 1:02pm

Today a attorney ask me about American Persimmon, I really don't think I have ever really wrote a lot about this plant!
Probably a plant in my mind that has been lost in the world of American Horticulture, but not the annuals of American History! This is great plant to naturalize into sites with Ash trees being lost to EAB (Emerald Ash Borer).
The genus name for the American Persimmon means "Fruit of the Gods". This is a reference to the delicious golden-orange fruits that often hang on the tree after the leaves drop in autumn. When ripe, these fruits are very sweet.
But they must be fully ripe. If you try to eat one too soon, your mouth will likely pucker from the bitter taste of tannic acid. Yet a ripe fruit is a real treat. Native Americans relished them, and they are a popular food for wild turkey, mockingbirds, deer, raccoons, foxes, squirrels, rabbits, and other wildlife. They can be made into pudding, preserves, beer, and brandy, and can also be dried for winter eating.
Most American Persimmon trees are either male or female, but some are self-fertile. The fruits are typically about one inch in diameter, though nurseries sell special cultivars which produce larger ones. The size of a crop, especially on wild trees, usually varies from year to year.
A fruit becomes soft as it ripens, and its skin begins to wrinkle. To avoid competition from wildlife, you can pick them a few days early, just after they start to soften, and let them finish ripening on a window sill. Some people say that they don't get ripe until after the first hard frost, but that isn't always true. A self-fertile variety called Meader can produce its first ripe fruit as early as mid-August in warm climates.
Although the color of this tree's fruit is normally orange, there is a rare naturally-occurring form of the species which has much darker fruit, sometimes almost black. This form is called Diospyros virginiana atra.

In addition to its fruit-bearing potential, the American Persimmon can make an attractive mid-size yard tree. The large drooping leaves give it a soft look, and the dark checkered bark of mature trees provides winter interest. The bell-shaped pistillate flowers are an appealing creamy-yellow, very fragrant, and an excellent nectar source for honeybees.

A grouping of several trees can make a good wildlife planting. The tree is tough and adaptable, grows rapidly, and its deep tap root gives it good drought resistance. It can survive in shade, but grows and fruits best in sun. Seedlings planted in good soil and a sunny location can begin fruiting in about 6-8 years.
Because wildlife distributes its seeds so effectively, American Persimmon is still fairly common in some areas. But in other regions the species is becoming scarce. A disease called persimmon wilt (Cephalsporium diospyri) has killed some wild trees in the upper South, and could spread to other areas.
Other Information
Scientific Name: Diospyros virginiana
Common Names: Persimmon, Possumwood
Plant Type: Mid-size to large deciduous tree
Height: 30 to 70 feet
Cultivation Zones: 5 - 9, though some special forms are hardy in Zone 4.
Native Habitat: Valleys and dry uplands in clearings and mixed forests
Native Range: Much of the eastern and central U.S. south of the Great Lakes region. See distribution map below.
Distribution Map

Range Map Source: U.S. Forest Service. (See General Note C)
Conservation Status: NatureServe lists Diospyros virginiana as Critically-Imperiled in Connecticut and Iowa, and Imperiled in New York. Officially the species is listed as Threatened in New Jersey and of Special Concern in Connecticut.
Cultivation: The American Persimmon can survive on poor sites, but for best growth and fruit production, give it good soil and plenty of sunlight, and keep it well-watered for the first couple of years. Spraying for insects or diseases normally isn't necessary to get good quality fruit. Because of its potentially deep tap root, a small specimen may be easier to plant.
Pasted from <http://gardentalkwhio.ning.com/profiles/blog/show?id=2587896%3ABlogPost%3A57573&xgs=1&xg_source=msg_share_post>
 
Thanks, Mark. 
Do you grow Persimmons?  Might be a Ash tree replacement. 

Trends In Gardening–Purple, Sexy, Modern, Purple

According to a Better Homes and Garden article, purple is the ‘trendy’ color to incorporate into the landscape. Finding a pleasant yet vibrant color scheme for the landscape is important.   The foliage of plants is a valued element, and yet when most think garden foliage, they think green.  Dark foliage plants add a sleek, modern element to the garden. ‘Fads’ can be used in annual containers. But I caution gardeners to skip the ‘fad’ of the year in the garden since that ‘fad’ will be long gone before your plants get established. Instead, key in on the ‘trends‘ of gardening, and update your landscape with a few colorful additions.

 
As this photo shows, the greens are ranging from dark green in the grass, to a lime chartreus of the moss.  The eye naturally goes to color, and I immediately sense the dark ground covers of the clover and ajuga as they play off of the brighter greens. 


This is a Hibiscus, ‘Summer Storm’.  This dark foliage on this 4’ – 5’ plant will certainly make a statement in a sunny border.  This plant is hardy to Zone 4. Two other Hibiscus that have magenta foliage are “Fleming Fields’ and ‘Kopper King’.

'Kopper King' Hibiscus

Burgundy foliage of the Rodgeria is not to be outdone. Hardy in Zones 5 – 8, this plant will do well in a rich, moist soil of a shade garden. The palm-like leaves are deeply lobed add a texture to the garden that makes this plant
standout.
 
“Bronze Peacock’ Rodgeria, is a compact plant that grows to about 2’ x 2’.  It’s thick leaves are somewhat glossy. A deep pink bloom when it flowers, this ‘Bronze Peacock’ would be a great companion plant to finer, lacy leaved plants like ferns and astilbe, or Lady's Mantle.




Euphorbia, ‘Blackbird’ will do well in a container.  The near-black foliage has yellow-chartreuse tips.  A member of the Spurge plant group, this plant is deer resistant and hardy in Zone 5 – 9 and needs full to part
sun.

Euphorbia, 'Cypress Spurge'

 
Euphorbia, “Cypress Spurge'” is a striking plant also.

Ligularia, “Britt-Marie Crawford” has dark green leaves which have a metallic burgundy sheen on the leaves.  Rich, moist soil in shade to part shade are required.  If Ligularia gets too much sun, be sure to keep it moist.  An other Ligularia, “Dragon Wings” is showy with deep-cut leathery leaves.  It’s stems are purple, 32” to 36” tall.  Nice for the back of a shady bed.




Epimedium, also called Barronwort, is a plant that has leaves throughout winter in my garden.  “Dark Beauty” stays short, only about 12” tall and will take some sun to mostly shady conditions.  The new growth of “Dark Beauty” is chocolate/purple.  Who doesn't like chocolate!


As we can see, there are some real striking plants that will perk up the property by picking purple.

 
This is Cimicifuga , Snake Root, or Bugbane, depending on who is describing this favorite in cottage gardens. There are a few to pick from in this family of plants that have dark foliage.
‘James Compton” has very dark purple foliage. “Pink Spike” is yet another Bugbane that has dark, dark purple foliage and light pink spiky blooms.  Very striking plant.

'Pink Spike'

Going back to the first photo of colorful ground covers, a discussion cannot be complete without mentioning Sedums.  These heat and drought tolerant plants are wonderful.  Sedums have many qualities, that I’ll need to fully feature them in the future article.

Sedum, "Dragon's Blood'

Sedum, 'Xenox'

Give the garden a glance.  Does anything stand out? If not, give purple it's place.  Does one section fade into another? If so, give purple a try.  Colors stops the eye to take in sections of the garden that might have otherwise been missed. Think about adding purple.  Purple foliage, can draw the eye into a stunning, modern vignette, and this trend will add long term interest to the space.

What dark foliage plants do you enjoy?  I didn't begin to cover the whole group.  What else can be included into the garden?