Deer Orchard™ Starter Pack | Zone 4

A wide-ranging tree that is adaptable to a diverse array of habitats, from the baking hot, dry limestone “Hill Country” of central Texas to moist floodplain margins in central Florida, while also enduring the cold winters in the northern extent of its range from Iowa to southern New England. Over time it will produce shoots from the roots, forming a colony of trunks that provide valuable cover for wildlife. The orange fruit which can range up to the size of a small plum, begin ripening in fall and are often retained on the tree after leaf drop well into December in southern latitudes. Note that this species has separate male and female plants, so to ensure fruit production multiple plants of our unsexed saplings should be sited near each other to increase the chances that both sexes will be present.

A wide-ranging tree that is adaptable to a diverse array of habitats, from the baking hot, dry limestone “Hill Country” of central Texas to moist floodplain margins in central Florida, while also enduring the cold winters in the northern extent of its range from Iowa to southern New England. Over time it will produce shoots from the roots, forming a colony of trunks that provide valuable cover for wildlife. The orange fruit which can range up to the size of a small plum, begin ripening in fall and are often retained on the tree after leaf drop well into December in southern latitudes. Note that this species has separate male and female plants, so to ensure fruit production multiple plants of our unsexed saplings should be sited near each other to increase the chances that both sexes will be present.

A wide-ranging tree that is adaptable to a diverse array of habitats, from the baking hot, dry limestone “Hill Country” of central Texas to moist floodplain margins in central Florida, while also enduring the cold winters in the northern extent of its range from Iowa to southern New England. Over time it will produce shoots from the roots, forming a colony of trunks that provide valuable cover for wildlife. The orange fruit which can range up to the size of a small plum, begin ripening in fall and are often retained on the tree after leaf drop well into December in southern latitudes. Note that this species has separate male and female plants, so to ensure fruit production multiple plants of our unsexed saplings should be sited near each other to increase the chances that both sexes will be present.

As can be expected from a tree naturally occurring in central and west Texas and into Mexico, this small tree is exceptionally tolerant of extreme heat, low humidity, drought and poor soil conditions. In southeast Texas it also occurs in more humid sandy ridges overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. Appearing nothing like the American Persimmon, this species produces silver dollar sized fruits that are jet black inside and out yet are surprisingly delicious even for humans. It starts out as a dense, multi-stemmed shrub with small olive-green leaves, and with size the smooth, exfoliating bark begins to take on attractive silver, grey and white tones. When planted outside of its native range, it will prosper best in hot, exposed, well-drained sites…perfect for sites that would be difficult for most other trees. Being dioecious, male and female individuals are required for fruit production so several of our unsexed plants sited near each other will increase the odds that both sexes are present.