Persimmon Tree Life Span: Growth Rate & Prolonging Health

One should not lose a persimmon tree, especially when it starts producing delectable fruits!

Different members of the family require slightly different care, but they can all be affected negatively by similar factors. Luckily with appropriate care, persimmons have long life spans and can outlive one or two generations of people!

How long do persimmon trees typically live for? Members of the persimmon genus (Diospyros sp.) have been found to live for up to 150 years in the wild, but cultivated trees typically live for 50 to 75 years. If your persimmon tree seems to be dying sooner than expected, it may be suffering from a lack of nutrients or other environmental factors.

Persimmons are a hardwood variety of ebony trees that, when given ample nutrients, water, and sunlight, will grow and produce fruit for many years.

Many factors can contribute to the death of a persimmon tree, but there are many things you can do to prolong its life.

Continue reading for more information on their general characteristics, life span, how to keep them thriving, how to revive a tree, and what factors will shorten their life.

Life Span of Persimmon Trees – The Facts

Persimmon trees grow fast, live for long periods of time, and will produce fruit abundantly once mature.

However, certain varieties are susceptible to cooler temperatures and can be affected by environmental factors like sunlight, soil type, and the amount of water they receive. More information on what persimmon trees need to grow can be found here.

How Fast Do Persimmon Trees Grow?

Persimmon trees will grow relatively quickly, averaging about 12 to 24 inches per year. Given ample nutrients and all the favorable growing conditions it needs, you will notice it shooting up before your eyes!

Pruning is a great way to keep it a smaller and more manageable size.

Ultimate Height & Spread of a Mature Persimmon Tree

If given the amount of space, a persimmon tree will grow to be 30 to 60 feet tall with a canopy up to 30 feet wide! Seasonally pruning them will keep them from outgrowing their area and allows easier access to harvest the fruit.

Dwarf varieties of persimmon trees are also available that will grow to a more manageable height of 8 to 10 feet tall and wide while not requiring as much pruning.

At What Age Do Persimmon Trees Begin Bearing Fruit?

Even though persimmon trees grow quickly, it takes time for them to reach fruit-bearing age. They will only begin to grow fruit after reaching the age of 7 to 10 years old.

While they will begin to produce fruit then, they will produce the most fruit when they reach between 25 and 30 years old. This is when the fruit will have the best taste and the tree will produce abundant fruit!

Is It Normal for Persimmon Trees To Lose Their Leaves?

Yes, it is normal for certain varieties of persimmon trees to lose their leaves. In most cases, this happens as a seasonal change because they are deciduous and will lose their leaves come the fall and winter.

There are evergreen varieties of persimmons that grow in warmer climates and will not lose their leaves when the summer ends.

If your persimmon tree is losing its leaves while being an evergreen variety, this can be cause for concern.

Many times it will lose its leaves prematurely if it doesn’t receive enough water, it is stressed by over-fertilization, or it was affected by an early cold spell.

Factors That Shorten the Life Span of a Persimmon Tree

Factors that will begin to reduce the life span of your persimmon tree include poor soil quality or the incorrect soil pH, a lack of sunlight, pests, diseases, and incorrect watering. They may also die quickly if they are grown in the incorrect climate.

This site has abundant information on different environmental factors that may be stressing your tree. If more than one of these factors is in affecting the tree, it will expedite the process and can cause the tree to die quickly.

How To Revive a Dying Persimmon Tree

A branch of a persimmon tree with no leaves and just a few fruits.

After diagnosing the problem and treating accordingly, in about one month you will begin to notice new growth with more noticeable changes the following season when it enters its new growth stage.

The tree will do the majority of its growth in the spring and summer, so this is when you should expect to see the greatest results.

Sometimes more than one factor may be causing stress, so check out the list below for the most common issues when diagnosing how to revive your tree.

Begin by checking to see if there are any pests or diseases that may be stressing the tree. Remove or treat them immediately to prevent the spread.
Check the soil moisture level, and adjust it to be slightly moist without over-saturation.
Fertilize the tree if you haven’t been. Many times they just need a nutrient boost!
If you have been fertilizing the tree, too much fertilizer may be to blame, which can change the soil pH to an unfavorable range.
Try repotting your tree into a larger pot, or plant it in the ground. It may have outgrown its space and needs additional room to grow.
Try to maximize the amount of sun it receives to help it photosynthesize more efficiently.

Here is a great website that outlines everything you can encounter when growing persimmon. It may require some time, but with some TLC, it should begin showing signs of recovery!

What Is the Life Expectancy of a Dwarf Persimmon Tree?

A dwarf persimmon tree will live a shorter amount of time, usually around 20-30 years. This is because they are grafted onto a different tree’s rootstock, making it grow at a rate that is not natural, eventually ending its life prematurely.

Conclusion

You may be curious how long the little sapling of a persimmon tree you planted will be around. With other varieties of plants only lasting a few years, persimmons are not one of them!

Usually outliving the one who planted them, persimmon trees are a favorite you can enjoy for years to come.