Persimmon tree

Growing in Pots, Balconies & Indoors

Persimmon is a deciduous fruit tree of 4-10 m (12-30 ft). The grower says it is not a houseplant but can be grown in a container – though it will bear fewer fruits potted than in the ground. It makes a good patio or balcony tree, especially a dwarf cultivar.

Quick Details

• Container Size: A large, deep container; a dwarf cultivar suits pots best
• Indoor Suitability: Not a houseplant; a patio container tree (fewer fruits than in the ground)
• Best Spot: Full sun to light shade
• Soil & Drainage: Aerated, organic-rich mix that drains freely
• Watering in Pots: Keep the mix lightly moist – pots dry faster than open ground; water once the surface starts to dry.

Indoors & On the Windowsill

• Houseplant limits: Not a houseplant – it needs strong sun and a winter chill, and it drops its leaves in the cool season.
• Windowsill growing: Too large for a sill; grow it in a pot outdoors.
• Overwintering: Being deciduous and hardy it is happy to stand out through a cold winter; it actually needs the chill to fruit well.

On a Balcony or Patio

• Light & wind: Give it the sunniest spot on the balcony or patio. Walls and paving reflect heat and pots dry quickly, so check moisture often; shelter and stake exposed plants against wind.

Choosing the Pot, Soil & Long-Term Care

• Pot & drainage: A deep pot with strong drainage holes; skip a standing-water saucer to avoid root rot. Terracotta breathes and dries faster, while glazed or plastic hold moisture longer.
• Potting mix: Well-aerated, organic-rich mix – peat or coir with perlite and a little organic matter; it must drain freely.
• Feeding: Potted plants use up their food faster because nutrients leach out with each watering, so feed a little more often than plants in open ground.
• Repotting: Refresh part of the mix and pot up every couple of years; for established plants, lightly prune the root ball and top growth when you repot.
• Fewer fruits potted: Expect a lighter crop in a pot than in open ground, as the grower notes; a bigger container helps.

Bloom & Flower Guide

Quick Details

• Bloom Season: Spring to summer
• Flower Appearance: Creamy white, crown- or bell-shaped flowers tucked among the leaves
• Edibility: The flowers are inconspicuous and not eaten

Detailed Blooming Overview

The persimmon flowers quietly in spring to early summer, its creamy blooms nestled close to the twigs among fresh green leaves. They are easy to miss, but they are the start of the season’s fruit, so a healthy bloom is worth watching for.

Flower Characteristics

• White to cream, with a wavy, crown-like form set close against the foliage.

Bloom Care & Thinning

• Thinning the bloom: In the first year, thin the flowers until the tree is big and strong enough to carry fruit.
• Pollination: Bees visit the flowers, though many persimmon cultivars are self-fruitful and can set fruit without pollination.
• Light: Full sun to half shade suits flowering.