Texas Persimmon, Chapote

Sun Exposure: Full sun to light shade

Origin: Southern and central Texas, northern Mexico (Nuevo Leon, Coahuila, Tamaulipas), from 1100 to 5700 feet elevation (300-1700 m)

Growth Habits: Small deciduous tree, or large shrub, slow growing to 10 to 40 feet tall (3-12 m), 15 to 25 feet spread (4.5-7.5 m); smooth and peeling, gray and white bark; oblong to obovate leaves, 1 to 2 inches long (2.5-5 cm), blunt tipped. with margins curled downward, and paler underside.

Watering Needs: Little to moderate water, drought tolerant, prefers well-drained soils.

Propagation: Seeds that must be thoroughly washed

Blooming Habits:
Dioecious, it has small, bell-shaped, greenish-white flowers, 0.3 inches long (8 mm) in late winter and spring.

Fruiting Habits:
The female Diospyros kaki trees carry the 1-inch round fruits (2.5 cm) that turn brown when mature, in late summer. They are edible but with little flesh and 3 to 8 seeds.