Deer Magnet Persimmon

Deer Magnet is an American persimmon selected for the kind of very sweet fall fruit that attracts both people and wildlife. Its 1.5-inch fruit gives home growers a named, grafted selection when they want more predictable eating quality than a random seedling can offer. The tree is especially at home in an edible landscape, wildlife planting, or mixed orchard where fallen fruit can be gathered promptly.

The cultivar came from the late Jerry Lehman’s persimmon breeding and selection work in Indiana. Kentucky State University records Deer Magnet among the persimmons he bred, alongside Deer Candy, Celebrity, and Lehman’s Delight. Published parentage is limited, so the dependable identity statement is that Deer Magnet is a named Diospyros virginiana selection from Lehman’s program.

Site Deer Magnet in full sun where the crown can develop without competition from large trees. American persimmon tolerates several soil textures, but a deep, well-drained site with dependable moisture during establishment gives the grafted tree the best start. Avoid low ground that stays saturated after rain, and water deeply rather than applying frequent shallow sprinkles. Its USDA zone 6-9 range and 100-200 chill-hour requirement make it a low-chill American persimmon for moderate-winter regions.

Choose the permanent planting position carefully because persimmons form a strong taproot and become harder to move once established. Keep grass and weeds away from the young root zone, use a broad mulch layer without piling it on the trunk, and prune lightly to establish sound scaffold branches. Heavy fertilizer can encourage soft growth at the expense of fruiting, so base amendments on a soil test.

USDA Hardiness Zone: 6-9
Chill Hours: 100-200

Deer Magnet develops as a deciduous American persimmon tree with a naturally upright woody framework and dense, durable wood. The foliage provides summer shade before changing color and dropping in fall, leaving the ripening orange fruit visible against the branches. Because mature height and spread are not recorded for this cultivar in the database, give it the room expected for a full-size persimmon rather than planning around a dwarf footprint.

A grafted cultivar preserves Deer Magnet's selected fruit traits, while root suckers that arise below the graft belong to the rootstock and should be removed. Young trunks benefit from guards where deer or rodents are active. The fruit is highly attractive to deer and other wildlife, which suits a habitat planting but creates competition in a harvest orchard. Pick ripe fruit regularly and keep the ground beneath the canopy clear enough to find drops.

Cultivar-specific pollination behavior is not firmly recorded for Deer Magnet, and American persimmons can carry male, female, or occasionally mixed flowering patterns. For dependable crops, the conservative plan is to provide compatible American persimmon pollen nearby instead of assuming one isolated tree will always set a full crop. A seedling American persimmon or a known pollen-producing Diospyros virginiana can serve that role.

Small pale flowers open after spring growth begins and are visited by bees. Delay any mowing of flowering groundcover near the tree until bloom has passed, and avoid broad-spectrum insect controls while pollinators are active. If space allows, planting more than one genetically distinct American persimmon also spreads weather and flowering risk across the orchard.

Deer Magnet produces 1.5-inch American persimmons with very sweet flavor at full ripeness. Like most American persimmon fruit, they should be allowed to become soft and fully colored before eating; fruit harvested firm can retain enough soluble tannin to taste sharply astringent. Gather sound fruit as it softens or drops, separate the pulp from skin and seeds, and refrigerate or freeze it promptly.

The rich pulp works especially well in persimmon pudding, quick breads, cookies, cakes, custard, preserves, and frozen desserts. It can also be eaten fresh once completely ripe. A food mill or sturdy colander separates pulp efficiently without crushing seeds. Wildlife will notice the crop quickly, so harvest frequency matters: daily or near-daily collection reduces losses to deer, raccoons, opossums, and birds and keeps damaged fruit from accumulating beneath the tree.

Fruit Size: 1.5 inch
Flavor: Very sweet

No cultivar-specific disease or pest resistance ratings are recorded for Deer Magnet, so inspect it as you would any American persimmon. Cercospora leaf spot can cause early defoliation in humid weather, reducing sugar accumulation and weakening the tree before winter. Rake and remove fallen leaves, thin crowded interior shoots, and water below the canopy so foliage dries quickly. Prune dead or cankered wood back to healthy tissue during dry weather and disinfect tools between suspect cuts.

Persimmon borers, psyllids, scales, twig girdlers, mites, and leaf-feeding caterpillars are worth watching, even when populations remain low. Protect the lower trunk from wounds, inspect for frass or loose bark, remove badly infested wood, and encourage predators such as lacewings and lady beetles. Horticultural oil or insecticidal soap may fit an organic program when correctly timed and labeled. Avoid routine spraying; monitor first, preserve beneficial insects, and intervene only when damage is building.

• Plan for pollen: Until Deer Magnet's flowering behavior is confirmed on your site, keep another genetically distinct American persimmon nearby.
• Wait for softness: Harvest for eating only after the fruit is fully colored and soft enough to lose its astringency.
• Guard the harvest: Deer and other wildlife value the sweet fruit, so pick frequently as ripening begins.
• Protect the graft: Remove rootstock suckers below the graft and shield the young trunk from browsing and mower injury.

Our 365-Day Plant Guarantee: We ensure that our plants are delivered to you alive and healthy. If your plant does not survive its first year, you're eligible for store credit under these conditions:

1. Your location falls within the appropriate USDA hardiness zone for the plant variety (refer to our hardiness zone map).
2. You maintain the roots' moisture and plant within three days of delivery, following the instructions in our Planting Guide.

If you're concerned about your plant's health, please consult our guide, How to Tell if Your Tree is Dead or Dormant. Remember, our plants are shipped in a dormant state and may leaf out at different times based on their species. To check for plant vital