Texas Gardening: Texas Native Plant Pictures ( Trees ), 1 by htop

htop wrote:
Texas Persimmon, Mexican Persimmon, Black Persimmon, Chapote, Chapote Manzano, Chapote Prieto (Diospyros texana), Ebenaceae Family, endemic Texas native tree/large shrub, semi-evergreen to deciduous, blooms February through June, fruits ripen in late summer

It is found naturally occurring in South and Central Texas and west to the Big Bend region. It may be a predominant invading woody species in some pastyre in Central Texas. It grows best in shallow, rocky limestone soils; but, It is adaptable to most soil types including clay. The soil must be well drained. It usually is a shrub or small tree less than 15 feet tall. However, along the upper Texas coast some specimens may reach 50 feet tall. Fine hairs are on the underside of the oval leaves which are rounded at the tips. The thin bark peels off in layers revealing mottled gray, white and pink hues.

The insignificant white, cream or grayish bell-shaped flowers have a sweet fragrance. The female plants produce 1 inch fruit that turn beautiful color shades as they ripen to black. The fruit pulp is sweet and edible; but, contains many seeds. Wildlife love the fruit. It is difficult at times to collect any ripe fruit because it has already been devoured or knocked from the tree with the fruit being smushed as it hits the ground before one can pick them. The persimmons are used in custards and pies. In Mexico, the fruits are used to make a black dye employed to stain animal hides.

The compact wood is almost black, hard and heavy. It takes a high polish and is valued because it can be used for tools, engraving blocks and art work.

For more information and more photos, see its entry in the PlantFiles:
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/55056/index.html

A view of the attractive bark ...