'Phoenix'™ Asian Persimmon

The Phoenix Persimmon is a Japanese-bred cultivar prized for its compact size, ornamental beauty, and excellent fruit quality. Unlike astringent types that must soften before eating, Phoenix produces non-astringent fruits that can be enjoyed crisp right off the tree. The flavour is sweet, rich, and refreshing when firm, and if allowed to ripen further, the flesh softens into a luscious, custard-like texture.

Fruits are medium-sized with a bright, glowing orange skin, ripening in mid to late autumn. Even after the colourful fall leaves have fallen, the tree is striking, with jewel-like fruit hanging against bare branches.

Naturally compact at 12–15 feet tall, Phoenix is easier to fit into smaller gardens than many persimmons and adapts well to annual pruning. It can also be grown in a large container, though in-ground planting offers the best long-term performance. Hardy to about Zone 7, it thrives in full sun and requires no pollinator, as it is self-fertile.

Beyond its ornamental value and ease of growth, Phoenix is highly productive and dependable, often bearing generous crops once established. A single tree will provide a steady harvest of versatile fruit — equally suited for fresh eating, drying, baking, or preserving.

Common names: Phoenix™ Persimmon, Do Geun Jo Sang Persimmon, Japanese Persimmon, Asian Persimmon

Edible: Fruit
Harvest timing: Mid to late autumn

Scientific name: Diospyros kaki 'Do Geun Jo Sang'
Light requirements: Full sun 
Full-grown size: 12-15' tall x 10-12' wide
Hardiness: Zone 7
Pollination: Self-fertile
Wildlife: Fruit are attractive to wildlife.
Origin: Species native to China, cultivar bred in Japan.
Noteworthy: Non-astringent. Compact.