Diospyros virginiana x kaki 'Nikita’s Gift'

Nikita’s Gift Persimmon tree is a unique, wonderful hybrid persimmon (American x Japanese Persimmon) from Nikita Botanic Garden in Yalta, Ukraine. It combines the larger fruit of the Japanese persimmons with the hardiness of the American persimmon.

Nikita’s Gift Persimmon tree produces abundant, delicious, large, reddish-yellow fruits that are 2 to 3 inches wide with somewhat flattened tops. Fruits are tastier, sweeter, and juicier than American persimmons, and have the same flavour as the Japanese persimmon varieties (kaki). They are formed in large clusters, and thinning fruits will increase the fruit size. Fruits are seedless and ripen in mid-October or November. They have an astringent flavour until they are fully ripe. They are ready to eat when soft and tender like a ripe tomato. Use for desserts, fresh eating, pies, cooking, sauces, or canning. Nikita’s Gift Hardy Persimmon begins bearing fruit 2 to 3 years after planting.

Nikita’s Gift Hybrid Persimmon tree grows up to 15 feet in height and 10 feet wide. Its bright green, waxy foliage will cover the entire tree and provide shade to the newly developing fruits. The leaves will turn strikingly beautiful reds and orange-yellows in fall.

Diospyros virginiana x kaki 'Nikita’s Gift' is a cold-hardy to zone 6a (-23 °) and highly adaptable persimmon. It is self-fertile, and does not require cross-pollinators. It prefers full sun and well-drained soil. Plant as a specimen in small gardens. (Persimmons usually produce suckers, which should be removed to promote healthy growth of the main trunk.) Nikita’s Gift Persimmon is not usually bothered by pests or diseases.