Tamopan Persimmon

Tamopan is an astringent cultivar of Diospyros kaki originating in China, where it was grown under names including Ta Shi Tze and variants of Ta Me Pan Shi Tsz before introduction to the West. It was brought to the United States through the USDA’s persimmon introduction program, which ran intensive importation of Chinese and Japanese kaki cultivars from the 1870s through approximately 1920; Tamopan appears in early California trial plantings as part of this systematic effort to evaluate Asian persimmon diversity. No formal breeding program or controlled cross is documented; it is a traditional Chinese horticultural selection of unknown age. As a fully astringent cultivar, the fruit remains inedible until tannins convert at the jelly-soft stage of ripeness. Tamopan has never carried a patent and is public domain. Its combination of unusual fruit morphology — a markedly flat, oblate shape with a pronounced equatorial ridge — and reliable bearing in low-chill climates gave it a niche presence in California and Gulf Coast plantings, where it served as much as an ornamental curiosity as a productive food tree.

Tamopan's very low chill requirement — roughly 100 to 200 hours below 45°F — positions it well for growers from the Gulf Coast through the mid-South and into lower-elevation Western regions. In practice this means almost any USDA zones 7–10 location accumulates sufficient winter cold without struggle, while the tree's heat tolerance keeps it productive through warm, humid summers. Deep, fertile loam is the ideal substrate; the taproot system penetrates several feet and resents shallow hardpan. Soil pH in the 6.0–7.5 range covers most naturally occurring conditions, with no aggressive amendment needed unless the site runs strongly alkaline. Consistent moisture during fruit sizing — roughly July through September in a warm-temperate climate — reduces premature drop, but standing water around the crown invites root rot. Raised planting or slight slope improves drainage materially. Full sun drives fruit color development and sugar accumulation; a shaded canopy edge produces pale, lower-Brix fruit. Grafted trees typically begin bearing in 2 to 5 years.

USDA Hardiness Zone: 7-10
AHS Heat Zone: 4-9
Chill Hours: 200-400
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Soil pH: 6.0-7.5
Soil Type: Loam, clay, or sand; prefers deep, fertile, well-drained loam
Soil Drainage: Well-drained
Water Requirements: Medium
Drought Tolerance: Moderate
Heat Tolerance: High
Plant Spacing: 12-15 ft apart

Mature Tamopan trees reach 20 to 30 feet tall with a spreading canopy spanning 15 to 25 feet, placing them firmly in the small-to-medium canopy layer of a food forest design. The upright-spreading habit produces a naturally vase-like framework that, if trained during the first three years, requires relatively light maintenance pruning thereafter. Structurally, the wood is dense and somewhat brittle under heavy crop loads — heading cuts to lateral scaffolds during the dormant season help distribute weight and reduce limb breakage. The deep taproot system anchors the tree well but complicates transplanting after establishment, making siting decisions important to get right the first time. Deciduous foliage opens dark green in spring and transitions through yellow, orange, and red in autumn — a genuine ornamental feature independent of the fruit. Growth rate is moderate, typically 12 to 18 inches annually in good conditions. The thornless canopy and low-care profile make Tamopan practical as a specimen tree in edible landscapes where maintenance time is limited.

Mature Height: 20-30 ft tall
Mature Spread: 15-25 ft wide
Growth Habit: Upright, spreading
Growth Rate: Moderate
Foliage Type: Deciduous
Food Forest Layer: Canopy
Leaf Color: Dark green
Fall Foliage Color: Yellow, orange, red
Thorns?: No
Attracts Wildlife: Deer, birds, raccoons, opossums, foxes, pollinators
Life Span: 50-100+ years

Tamopan is parthenocarpic and self-fertile — it sets seedless fruit entirely without pollination, which makes it reliable in isolated plantings or in urban settings where pollinators are scarce. Bloom runs mid-April through mid-May in a temperate climate, with small creamy-white female flowers and pinkish male flowers carried on the same tree. When bees do transfer pollen — from a nearby Oriental persimmon or from the tree's own male flowers — fruit may develop seeds and reach the larger end of the 3-to-5-inch size range. For growers whose primary goal is maximum fruit size rather than seedlessness, planting a second Oriental persimmon (Diospyros kaki) cultivar within insect-flight distance can improve set. No specific pollinator href is required here because Tamopan fruits reliably as a standalone tree.

Bloom Season: Very Early
Bloom Window: Mid Apr - Mid May
Pollination Requirements: Self-fertile; cross-pollination not required but may increase fruit size and seed set
Pollination Mechanism: Insect-pollinated (bees); also parthenocarpic (sets seedless fruit without pollination)
Flower Color: Creamy white (female); pinkish (male)

The defining trait of Tamopan fruit is scale: at 200 grams (roughly 7 oz) and 3 to 5 inches across, each fruit is substantially larger than typical Oriental persimmon cultivars. The flat, oblate shape with a distinct equatorial groove makes the fruit visually distinctive and practically useful — halved, the thick, glossy skin acts as a natural bowl for eating fresh with a spoon. Flavor at full ripeness centers on intense sweetness with pear, cantaloupe, and faint mango notes; Brix values for fully soft astringent persimmons often exceed 20. Until then, soluble tannins create strong astringency — harvest only after the skin turns light orange to red-orange and the flesh yields noticeably to pressure. Cold temperatures or ethylene exposure (placing fruit in a bag with a ripe apple) accelerate de-astringency. Fresh-eating at peak ripeness is the primary use; the fruit also performs well in baked goods, puddings, preserves, and dried preparations. Refrigerated storage extends shelf life to 1 to 4 months; room-temperature fruit softens fully within 1 to 3 weeks.

Ripening Season: Mid
Harvest Window: Mid Oct - Mid Nov
Fruit Size: 3-5 inch
Fruit Weight: 200 g (7 oz)
Flavor: Very sweet when fully ripe; hints of pear, cantaloupe, and mango; astringent when unripe
Fruit Color: Light orange to red-orange when ripe
Fruit Texture: Jelly-like, soft, dense when fully ripe; firm and astringent when unripe
Fruit Skin: Thick, glossy, smooth, waxy; edible; acts as natural bowl when halved
Bearing Habit: Annual
Years to Bear: 2-5 years from grafted tree
Yield: 50+ per year at maturity
Storage Life: 1-4 months refrigerated; 1-3 weeks at room temperature
Culinary Uses: Fresh eating when soft-ripe; baking (breads, puddings); jams, preserves, canning; dried

Tamopan carries moderate susceptibility to Persimmon Leaf Spot (Pseudocercospora diospyricola), Botryosphaeria Canker (Botryosphaeria dothidea), Armillaria Root Rot (Armillaria mellea), and Phytophthora Root Rot (Phytophthora spp.), along with susceptibility to Anthracnose (Colletotrichum horii). For Anthracnose, sanitation is the first line of defense: rake and remove fallen leaves and mummified fruit each autumn, since the pathogen overwinters on debris. Pruning for open canopy structure improves airflow and reduces the humid microclimate that favors infection during wet springs. OMRI-listed copper-based fungicides applied at bud swell and again at petal fall provide supplemental protection in rainy seasons. Botryosphaeria Canker enters through wounds; avoid pruning cuts during wet weather and disinfect tools between trees. Both root rot diseases stem from waterlogged soil — site on well-drained ground or a raised berm and avoid heavy mulch against the trunk. Pest pressure includes Scale Insects (Pseudaulacaspis spp. / Parthenolecanium spp.), Persimmon Clearwing Borer (Sannina uroceriformis), Mealybug (Planococcus spp.), and Fall Webworm (Hyphantria cunea). Inspect for scale in late winter; scrub limbs with a soft brush and apply OMRI-listed horticultural oil at delayed dormant stage. Keep trees well-watered to deter clearwing borer, and remove fall webworm nests by hand before larvae disperse.

Cercospora Leaf Spot: Moderately Susceptible
Persimmon Wilt: Moderately Susceptible
Botryosphaeria Canker and Dieback: Moderately Susceptible
Anthracnose: Susceptible
Phytophthora Root Rot: Moderately Susceptible
Persimmon Borer: Moderately Resistant
White Peach Scale: Moderately Resistant

• De-astringency shortcut: Place firm-ripe Tamopan fruit in a sealed bag with one ripe apple for 3–5 days; ethylene gas accelerates tannin conversion without affecting flavor.
• Anthracnose prevention: Clear all leaf litter and dropped fruit from under the canopy each fall — the pathogen overwinters on debris, so sanitation dramatically reduces spring inoculum pressure.
• Root rot avoidance: Never plant where water ponds after heavy rain; if drainage is marginal, build a 12-inch raised berm before planting.
• Harvest timing: Wait until skin color shifts fully to orange-red and fruit has slight give when pressed; fruit picked too early will not de-astringent properly even at room temperature.
• Transplant window: Establish the tree in its permanent location while young — the deep taproot makes moving a 3-year-old or older tree difficult and often unsuccessful.

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