Diospyros kaki Raven™ ('Black')
Raven Kaki Persimmon, Black Persimmon, Raven Japanese Persimmon
- Main interest:
- early-ripening, glossy-black sweet fruit, self-fertile, abundant crops
- Exposure:
- full sun
- Soil humidity:
- moist soil; well drained
- Flower colour:
- white
- Fragrance:
- Mildly fragrant
- Flowering period:
- June
- Foliage:
- green turning orange in the fall
- USDA Hardiness:
- zone 7a: -18 °C (0 °F) View Zone Map
- Mature height & width:
- height: 20 ft (6 m) width: 10 ft (3 m)
- Use:
- fruit production, orchard, specimen, container
Raven Kaki Persimmon (Diospyros kaki Raven™ ('Black')) is prized for its heavy yields and truly unique fruit coloration. Unlike traditional persimmons, Raven Kaki produces an unusual, and striking glossy black fruit. This black persimmon fruit is slightly more rounded than other varieties and may display orange spotting or striping on the skin.
Raven Kaki is an astringent persimmon, reaching peak sweetness when fully ripe and soft, with a tender, almost tomato-like feel. The edible black skin encloses rich, exceptionally sweet flesh with the classic persimmon profile - fruity notes and subtle spicy undertones. Fully mature fruit is highly nutritious, offering abundant antioxidants, dietary fibre, and vitamin A. Raven kaki persimmons are excellent for fresh eating and are equally well suited to puddings, syrups, baking, and preserves.
Beyond its fruit, Raven Kaki persimmon tree is valued for its ornamental appeal. This deciduous tree develops a rounded, spreading crown and is a Chinese variety that typically remains under 6 m (20 ft), and can be pruned to remain under 4 m (12ft). It can be grown as a specimen tree or trained as a hedge, screen, or espalier. Root suckers should be pruned promptly unless a more naturalized appearance is desired. autumn.
Raven persimmon is self-fertile, producing small, inconspicuous creamy-white flowers. Its glossy, tropical-looking green leaves turn vibrant shades of orange and red in fall, creating a dramatic backdrop for the black fruit, which often persists on the tree after leaf drop. An early-ripening persimmon variety, Raven may begin maturing as early as October. Birds such as Blue Jays, Cardinals, and Waxwings are known to enjoy the fruit.
If it does not fully ripen on the tree, this black persimmon fruit can be harvested and allowed to mature in cold storage. Refrigeration temperatures should remain above 4 °C to prevent deterioration of fruit texture. Trees typically begin bearing fruit within 2–3 years. Raven Kaki persimmon thrives in full sun and moist, well-drained soil. It is disease-resistant and generally untroubled by pests. Hardy to zone 7a (–18 °), it can also be grown in containers and must be moved indoors in colder climes.
Grow Raven Japanese Persimmon and become the talk of the neighbourhood with this extraordinary black-fruited tree.
- Main interest:
- early-ripening, glossy-black sweet fruit, self-fertile, abundant crops
- Exposure:
- full sun
- Soil humidity:
- moist soil; well drained
- Flower colour:
- white
- Fragrance:
- Mildly fragrant
- Flowering period:
- June
- Foliage:
- green turning orange in the fall
- USDA Hardiness:
- zone 7a: -18 °C (0 °F) View Zone Map
- Mature height & width:
- height: 20 ft (6 m) width: 10 ft (3 m)
- Use:
- fruit production, orchard, specimen, container
Raven Kaki Persimmon (Diospyros kaki Raven™ ('Black')) is prized for its heavy yields and truly unique fruit coloration. Unlike traditional persimmons, Raven Kaki produces an unusual, and striking glossy black fruit. This black persimmon fruit is slightly more rounded than other varieties and may display orange spotting or striping on the skin.
Raven Kaki is an astringent persimmon, reaching peak sweetness when fully ripe and soft, with a tender, almost tomato-like feel. The edible black skin encloses rich, exceptionally sweet flesh with the classic persimmon profile - fruity notes and subtle spicy undertones. Fully mature fruit is highly nutritious, offering abundant antioxidants, dietary fibre, and vitamin A. Raven kaki persimmons are excellent for fresh eating and are equally well suited to puddings, syrups, baking, and preserves.
Beyond its fruit, Raven Kaki persimmon tree is valued for its ornamental appeal. This deciduous tree develops a rounded, spreading crown and is a Chinese variety that typically remains under 6 m (20 ft), and can be pruned to remain under 4 m (12ft). It can be grown as a specimen tree or trained as a hedge, screen, or espalier. Root suckers should be pruned promptly unless a more naturalized appearance is desired. autumn.
Raven persimmon is self-fertile, producing small, inconspicuous creamy-white flowers. Its glossy, tropical-looking green leaves turn vibrant shades of orange and red in fall, creating a dramatic backdrop for the black fruit, which often persists on the tree after leaf drop. An early-ripening persimmon variety, Raven may begin maturing as early as October. Birds such as Blue Jays, Cardinals, and Waxwings are known to enjoy the fruit.
If it does not fully ripen on the tree, this black persimmon fruit can be harvested and allowed to mature in cold storage. Refrigeration temperatures should remain above 4 °C to prevent deterioration of fruit texture. Trees typically begin bearing fruit within 2–3 years. Raven Kaki persimmon thrives in full sun and moist, well-drained soil. It is disease-resistant and generally untroubled by pests. Hardy to zone 7a (–18 °), it can also be grown in containers and must be moved indoors in colder climes.
Grow Raven Japanese Persimmon and become the talk of the neighbourhood with this extraordinary black-fruited tree.
Synonym(s): Diospyros kaki 'Black'
Also known as: Black Japanese Persimmon, Raven Asian Persimmon, Raven Oriental Persimmon, Black Japanese Persimmon, Black-skinned Persimmon, Black Kaki Persimmon