A fruit tree that Texas A&M horticulturists say gardeners can largely leave alone once it is established has been added to the Texas Superstar list.
Texas A&M AgriLife announced Monday that the Oriental persimmon, also called Japanese persimmon, is the program's newest pick. The designation goes to plants that hold up through years of field trials by AgriLife Research and AgriLife Extension across the state's mix of soils and weather. A nine-member board of horticulture faculty and professionals from AgriLife and Texas Tech University makes the selections.
Why it was chosen
The tree is nearly free of the insect and disease problems that dog many fruit trees, according to Larry Stein, an AgriLife Extension horticulture specialist based in Uvalde.
"I'd say they're more suited to Texas soil and weather conditions than any other fruit," Stein said in the announcement. "Once they're established, you can pretty much ignore them, and they'll fruit."
It also works as a landscape tree, with glossy dark green leaves and clusters of orange fruit in the fall.
Picking a variety
Varieties fall into two groups. Astringent types that do well in Texas, including Eureka, Hachiya, Tani-nashi and Tamopan, have to ripen fully, often after a spell of cool weather, before they are pleasant to eat. Non-astringent types such as Fuyu can be eaten as soon as they turn color.
