What Are Even Golden and Woolbright Persimmons?

Distinction

• American persimmon is one of two primary persimmon species. Japanese persimmon, also called Oriental or Asian persimmon (Diospyros kaki), grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 through 10, and its cultivars are commonly sold in grocery stores. American persimmon is the hardier native species that grows in USDA zones 4 through 9. Compared to Japanese species, which you can harvest when they are firm and crisp, American persimmons are harvested when very soft, which means they don’t hold well after you pick them. Consequently, American cultivars such as “Even Golden” and “Woolbright” are not grocery store staples.

Astringency

• American persimmon fruits are exclusively astringent, compared to Japanese cultivars, which may be either astringent or nonastringent. Astringent persimmons contain alum, which has an immediate, strong drying effect. If you bite into an unripe astringent persimmon, its alum content gives your mouth a puckered, inside-out feeling. Unripe “Even Golden” and “Woolbright” cultivars are firm and still attached strongly by their calyx to twigs. When the fruits are soft to the touch and pull easily from the trees under gentle pressure, they’ve lost their astringency and are sweet to eat.

Dioecious Trees

• American persimmon trees are typically dioecious, which means that they are either male or female. In order to harvest “Even Golden” and “Woolbright” fruits, you must plant more than one tree -- at least one male and one female. The U.S. Forest Service notes that one male tree can pollinate 23 female trees, so you don’t have to plant an equal number of males and females. Occasionally, one tree may produce both male and female flowers, but the fruits are sparse and the harvest is disappointing.

"Even Golden" and "Woolbright" Features

• American persimmons are typically very seedy, sometimes with more seeds than pulp. “Even Golden” and “Woolbright” are two cultivars that have been bred to have fewer seeds -- usually only two to eight. Both are listed by Purdue University as productive cultivars with fruits that have excellent flavor. Because “Woolbright” cracks easily, it’s best to pick the fruits from trees instead of allowing them to fall so they don’t shatter. Eat them soon after harvest. “Even Golden” is one of the oldest persimmon cultivars.