Can you grow persimmon from seed? Yes. You can grow persimmon from seed by giving cleaned seeds 60 to 120 days of cold, moist storage near 40 to 50°F (4 to 10°C), then sowing in spring in a deep pot. Seedlings take 4 to 9 years to fruit and do not come true to the parent.
Key takeaway: To grow persimmon from seed you mostly need patience and a refrigerator. Purdue Extension says seeds need 60 to 90 days of cold, moist treatment at about 50°F (10°C), and Alabama Extension notes that seedlings can take 4 to 9 years to bear. This guide covers where to get seed, how to stratify and germinate it, and what to expect from the tree.
| Step or Fact | Persimmon From Seed | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Cold stratification | 60 to 90 days, moist, about 50°F (10°C) | Purdue HO-108 |
| Nursery method | 120 days at 40 to 50°F (4 to 10°C) in moist perlite or peat | Univ. of Kentucky |
| Sowing time | Spring, into deep nursery pots | Alabama Extension |
| Root habit | Strong taproot | Alabama Extension |
| Years to fruit (seedling) | 4 to 9 years | Alabama Extension |
| Years to fruit (grafted) | 3 to 5 years | Alabama Extension |
| Come true from seed? | No; improved varieties are grafted | Purdue HO-108 |
Can You Grow a Persimmon From a Store-Bought Seed?
Sometimes. Many store-bought Asian persimmons (*Diospyros kaki*) have no seeds at all; Purdue Extension notes the fruit of most kaki varieties is seedless. If you find a seed, you can grow persimmon from seed with it, but the tree will not match the fruit you ate. Seeds from wild American persimmon (*D. virginiana*) are easier to find and the tree is far hardier.
- American persimmon: hardy to about −20 to −25°F (−29 to −32°C) and grows 40 to 50 ft (12 to 15 m) tall, per Purdue.
- Asian persimmon: not hardy below about 10°F (−12°C), per Purdue; best for warm zones or large containers.
- Seed size: about 1/3 to 1/2 in (8 to 13 mm) long.
- Freshness: to grow persimmon from seed, sow fresh seed; do not let it dry out on a windowsill for months (our guidance).
How Do You Germinate a Persimmon Seed, and How Long Does It Take?
To grow persimmon from seed reliably, clean the pulp off, then chill the seed in moist media before sowing. Alabama Extension says to keep seeds in moist sand or sterile media in the refrigerator for several months and plant in spring. Purdue gives 60 to 90 days at 50°F (10°C), and the University of Kentucky uses 120 days at 40 to 50°F (4 to 10°C) in moist perlite or peat.
- Rinse the seeds and rub off all fruit flesh.
- Mix them with slightly damp peat, perlite or sand in a zip bag.
- Label the bag and refrigerate it for 60 to 120 days.
- Check monthly; the mix should stay damp but never wet (our guidance).
- In spring, sow 1 in (2.5 cm) deep in a deep pot of seed mix (our guidance).
- Keep the pot near 70 to 80°F (21 to 27°C); sprouts usually appear within 2 to 6 weeks (our guidance).
Planting outdoors in fall is the natural alternative; Purdue notes fall sowing lets winter do the stratifying.
Will a Persimmon Grown From Seed Ever Fruit?
It can, but slowly and not always. When you grow persimmon from seed, expect a long wait. Alabama Extension says seedlings take 4 to 9 years to fruit, versus 3 to 5 years for grafted trees. American persimmon is mostly dioecious, meaning trees are male or female, so a seedling may be male and never fruit, or a female may need a male nearby. Fruit quality from seedlings is unpredictable.
- Sex: you cannot tell male from female until the tree flowers.
- Planting tip: grow several seedlings and keep the females, as Alabama Extension suggests for planting more than one tree.
- Grafting: Purdue notes improved varieties are grafted onto seedling rootstock, so your seedling can become a rootstock.
- Sun: full sun is needed for good fruiting.
What Pot and Care Do Persimmon Seedlings Need?
Use a deep pot when you grow persimmon from seed, because persimmon grows a strong taproot that dislikes disturbance, according to Alabama Extension. A tall tree pot or a deep 1-gallon (4 L) container works for the first year (our guidance). Keep the mix evenly moist, give bright light, and move the plant up a size before roots circle.
- Container: deep and narrow beats wide and shallow (our guidance).
- Mix: free-draining; see coco coir for a soilless option.
- Light: full sun outdoors or a strong grow light indoors.
- Transplant: move outdoors in the first or second spring to limit taproot damage (our guidance).
If you like long-term fruit projects, also see hydroponic dwarf fruit trees.
Can You Grow Persimmon in Hydroponics?
Not as a full tree. You can grow persimmon from seed in soilless media for a while, though. Research and extension guides cover soil and nursery pots, not hydroponic persimmon trees. You can start seeds in rockwool or coco and grow seedlings in a soilless pot, but a mature 40 ft (12 m) tree belongs in the ground (our guidance).
- Germination: peat pellets work well; see peat pellets.
- Seedling stage: treat like any tree seedling in a soilless container.
- Bonsai option: see hydroponic bonsai for container-tree ideas.
FAQ About How to Grow Persimmon From Seed
How long does it take to grow persimmon from seed to fruit?
About 4 to 9 years, per Alabama Extension.
Do persimmon seeds need cold stratification?
Yes; 60 to 120 days cold and moist.
Will my seedling taste like the fruit I ate?
No; persimmons do not come true from seed.
Why does my store persimmon have no seeds?
Most Asian kaki varieties are seedless, per Purdue.
Do I need two persimmon trees?
Often yes; American persimmon is mostly male or female.
Can I grow persimmon from seed indoors?
Yes for the first year or two, then move it outside.
Sources
- Alabama Cooperative Extension System — Native Fruits: Persimmon
- Purdue Extension — HO-108: Persimmons
- University of Kentucky Nursery Crop Extension — Diospyros virginiana, Common Persimmon
- Photo credits (Wikimedia Commons, edited with titles): Persimmon fruit seed by Salil Kumar Mukherjee (CC BY-SA 4.0); Diospyros kaki seedling dicotyledon 06 by Eiku (CC BY-SA 4.0)