'Meader' American Persimmon

Meader American Persimmon produces medium-sized, deep orange fruit with a very sweet, rich flavour once fully ripe. The fruit is excellent for fresh eating, drying, baking, and traditional puddings, and crops are consistent and abundant.

Meader is an astringent persimmon, so the fruit must be allowed to soften before eating; when ripe, the astringency disappears and the flesh becomes custard-like and sweet. Meader produces predominately female flowers, which can produce seedless fruit parthenocarpically (without pollination). It also produces some male flowers, which can pollinate its female flowers, resulting in reliable harvests.

Named after breeder Elwyn Meader in the 1950s, this cultivar is among the most cold-hardy persimmons. Trees are relatively compact compared to other American persimmons, maturing at 15-25 feet tall. 

Our Meader persimmon trees are grafted onto American persimmon root stock.

Common names: Meader American Persimmon, American Persimmon

Edible: Fruit
Harvest timing: Early-season (September - October)

Scientific name: Diospyros virginiana 'Meader'
Light requirements: Full sun 
Full-grown size: 15-25' tall x 12-20' wide
Hardiness: Zone 4
Pollination: Self-fertile. Produces predominantly female flowers, which are parthenocarpic and can produce seedless fruit without pollination. Also produces some male flowers, which can pollinate its female flowers. 
Wildlife: Flowers provide nectar for pollinators; fruit attracts birds, deer, raccoons, and other wildlife.
Origin: Species native to eastern and central North America. Variety developed by Elwyn Meader at the University of New Hampshire in the 1950s.
Noteworthy: More compact than most American persimmons, which are usually large trees. Produces more male flowers than Early Golden or Garretson.