Diospyros virginiana 'Killen': Wildlife Value
The fruit is eaten by squirrel, fox, skunk, deer, bear, coyote, raccoon, opossum, and various birds, including quail, wild turkey, cedar waxwing, and catbird.
Plant Profile: Diospyros virginiana 'Killen'
Names
Killen Common Persimmon
Phonetic Spelling:dee-oh-SPR-os vir-jin-ee-AY-uh
Genus:Diospyros
Species:virginiana
Family:Ebenaceae
Killen is a variety of the native American Persimmon, known for its pleasant flavor and firm, medium-sized fruit that yields moderately well. The fruit remains astringent until it reaches full ripeness, at which point it becomes exceptionally sweet. For optimal growth, plant it in full sunlight within moist, well-drained soil. This cultivar is versatile, thriving in various soil types and demonstrating drought resistance.
For further details on Diospyros virginiana, please refer to additional resources.
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen' Feature Summary
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen' Image Gallery
Tags
#hardy
#deciduous
#fall color
#full sun tolerant
#wildlife plant
#native tree
#tree
#cpp
#edible fruits
#orange fruits
#fruits
Similar Plants
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen' Feature Summary
Attributes
The fruit is eaten by squirrel, fox, skunk, deer, bear, coyote, raccoon, opossum, and various birds, including quail, wild turkey, cedar waxwing, and catbird.
The fruit is used in syrups, jellies, ice creams or pies. They can be eaten raw or dried. Persimmon leaves can be used to make teas.
Woody
Seed
Root Cutting
Wildlife Food Source
Fruit
Medium-sized, orange fruit with firm texture and good flavor
Berry
Orange
Edible
1-3 inches
1-3 inches
Flowers
The tree is dioecious which male and female flower blooms on different trees. The flower is cream in color and not showy.
Cream/Tan
Insignificant
Spring
Leaves
2-6-inch dark green glossy leaves with pubescent and lighter undersides. Great red foliage in fall.
Deciduous
Green
Red/Burgundy
Simple
Alternate
Elliptical
Ovate
Serrate
3-6 inches
Glossy
Bark
Mature bark develops a deep, blocky pattern. The bark is dark gray or brown to black at times
Dark Gray
Black
Ridges
Square
Whole Plant Traits
Edible
Tree
Deciduous
Erect
Slow
Medium
Medium
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Acid (<6.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Good Drainage
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
9a
9b
Clay
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Stem
Landscape
Edible Garden
Pollinator Garden
Children's Garden
Garden for the Blind
Specimen
Flowering Tree
Drought
Woodland
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Pollinators
Songbirds
Small Mammals
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen' Image Gallery
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen' Attributes
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen': Edibility
The fruit is used in syrups, jellies, ice creams or pies. They can be eaten raw or dried. Persimmon leaves can be used to make teas.
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen': Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen': Recommended Propagation Strategy
Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen': Play Value
Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen' Fruit
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen': Fruit Description
Medium-sized, orange fruit with firm texture and good flavor
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen': Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen': Fruit Color
Orange
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen': Fruit Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen': Display/Harvest Time
Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen': Fruit Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen': Fruit Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen' Flowers
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen': Flower Description
The tree is dioecious which male and female flower blooms on different trees. The flower is cream in color and not showy.
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen': Flower Color
Cream/Tan
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen': Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen': Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen' Leaves
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen': Leaf Description
2-6-inch dark green glossy leaves with pubescent and lighter undersides. Great red foliage in fall.
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen': Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen': Leaf Color
Green
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen': Deciduous Leaf Fall Color
Red/Burgundy
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen': Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen': Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen': Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen': Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen': Hairs Present
No
Yes
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen': Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen': Leaf Feel
Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen' Bark
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen': Bark Description
Mature bark develops a deep, blocky pattern. The bark is dark gray or brown to black at times
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen': Bark Color
Black
Dark Gray
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen': Surface/Attachment
Bumpy
Exfoliating
Fissured
Furrowed
Lenticels
Papery
Patchy
Peeling
Ridges
Scaly
Shaggy
Shiny
Shredding
Smooth
Spongy
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen': Bark Plate Shape
Diamond
Irregular
Oval
Rectangle
Round
Square
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen' Whole Plant Traits
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen': Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen': Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen': Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen': Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen': Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen': Texture
Fine
Medium
Coarse
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen' Cultural Conditions
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen': Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen': Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen': Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen': NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen': USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
5a
5b
6a
6b
7a
7b
8a
8b
9a
9b
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen': Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen' Stem
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen': Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen' Landscape
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen': Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen': Design Feature
Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen': Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen': Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
Diospyros virginiana 'Killen': Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
