This small, popular ornamental tree is ideal for urban landscaping and is extremely drought tolerant. It also attracts wildlife. Photo by Don Glentzer.

Texas Persimmon

Diospryros texana

This lovely understory tree provides a show of gnarled branches which become smooth and gray with age, with exfoliating bark like a crepe myrtle. Normally growing 6 to 15 feet tall, the tree is deciduous.

This Texas native is extremely drought tolerant, ideal for xeriscaping. It’s disease resistant and adaptable to most soils including clay. It does well in full or partial sun in well drained soil.

It’s also commonly called Mexican persimmon, black persimmon, chapote, and chapote prieto.

From summer to autumn, its fleshy fruit matures from green to black, attracting birds, mammals, and wildlife. Many people enjoy the fruit when it’s sweet in the fall. Photo by Don Glentzer.