I’ve managed to live long enough to receive D. virginiana rootstock from Fruitwood nursery.
Now we’ve had these discussions before, but just in case your opinions have changed … what are your top one or two picks for American persimmon in terms of fruit quality?
I will grow them in southern CA zone 10b – with overcast Spring weather, moderate summers that last until October, mostly cloudy non-freezing winters, and weekly irrigation.
I have been waiting for someone to respond to you.
No one has so I am saying something to bump you back up there.
I had a great laugh about your comment about the rootstock from Fruitwood because I recently ordered D. Virginia rootstock from them too. How long did it take to get your order?
I have never tried an American persimmon and I can’t find any locally to try so I ordered scion wood of Dollywood, Early Jewel, I-115 and Prok.
I figure even if we don’t like them someone at the local farmers market might and of course we all know the wildlife will approve.
Was that a jibe about them always being out of stock? How do they look?
I was on the wait list for over a year. On top of that, last year I had a bout with melanoma and endured 9 months of immunotherapy. Then Fruitwood contacted me about the rootstock availability 
. It arrived within a week of ordering.
@murky
Yes. It was worth the wait.
I haven’t tried it personally, but I’m adding H63a this year being as Dax said it was the absolute best he had ever tasted. I’ve only had Meader and Prok fruit so far, and even then I don’t know if what I was trying was a nursery mislabeled variety.
I saw in your other thread, Richard, that you are considering Downingtown Center and H-118. I have both of those. This spring will be there third leaf. I can tell you that Downingtown Center is the most vigorous grafted D. v. variety I have tried so far. It almost keeps up growth with some hybrids I’m trialing.
It is (was ?) such a tall tree, even 30 years ago. Someone climbed it to get scionwood!
H118 is delicious. It’s the only one I have. I’ve had some issues with lingering astringency sometimes, maybe related to my cool wet climate and when I pick them. There is a also a little bit of off taste in the skin for me.
I’m also adding H63a at Ram’s suggestion.
Two excellent Claypools.
I have 12 persimmon varieties already…
6 Americans… Prok, Rich Tooie, Mohler, Barbaras Blush, H63A, H118.
4 Hybrids… JT02 Mikusu, Nakitas Gift, Kasandra, Journey
2 Asians… IKKJiro, Cardinal
This coming spring… adding Saijo and Dar Sofiyivky. That should be it for me.
In a few years I will need you all to come over and help me eat all these persimmons.
TNHunter
@TNHunter
what are your top one or two picks for American persimmon in terms of fruit quality?
FWIW, I’m growing H63A, Barbra’s Blush, Dollywood, H-118, and Morris Burton. I settled on the first four based on testimonials of growers here, filtered by a requirement of early ripening. I added MB based on a discussion of early loss of astringency, but MB produces small fruit and ripens late so it may have been a mistake.
So far I’ve fruited the first three because they were grafted first. All produce good fruit.
@Richard … I collected /grafted most of those over the past 2 years.
Last year several of them set fruit… but dropped it by june.
Hopefully some of those will hold fruit to ripen this year.
The only one of those that I have eaten fruit from is my Sisters tree… Rich Tooie. It is a delicious rich flavored persimmon.
When I went to Englands Orchard this past fall… I was hoping to get to try several of those varieties… but that did not work out. I found trees of H118 and H63A but there was no fruit on them. Bummer…
Oh well I will get to taste my own soon enough.
TNHunter
Yup. I’ve had trouble getting rid of just the Kasandras!
Regarding your choices – You know the expression about “great minds”? This is scary.
I have three of your Americans (BB, H63A, H118, plus Morris Burton, which I admit may have been a mistake); all 5 of your hybrids, plus Chuchupaka, minus Journey; both of your Asian PCNAs, plus Izu and Taishu (a stretch for ripening); and your lone Asian PCA, plus Sheng. The only real mismatch is that I have three PVNAs – Giboshi, Coffee Cake and Chocolate.
So far no one has mentioned Lehman’s Delight 100-46.
I had noticed positive comments about it, but it seemed to be a late ripener. That’s the only reason I ruled out for my location.
Lehmans Delight is awesome, biggest pure american I have seen. Definitely worth growing. Large fruit on a small tree. Here are some photos from Cliff Englands 2023
U20a Celebrity is also really nice, this is from my 2024 visit.
L93a was also large and really delicious, but I’d put Lehman’s Delight and Celebrity as my top 2
I believe that U20A is a sibling (has the same parents as) Barbra’s Blush.
It looks like my American persimmon trial will have one from each of the well-known breeders:
Downingtown Center - John Hershey
Geneva Red - George Slate
H-118 - James Claypool
100-46 (Lehman’s Delight) - Jerry Lehman
Did I miss any breeder of note?
100-46 was ripe and delicious at Englands Orchard when we were there this fall… Oct 13 best I remember.
Big Pretty fruit… a nice clear orange flesh color, had that apricot citrus type flavor.
Many of the others we tried there tasted very similar…
TNHunter
