Ask the Ombudsman
Q: We have a persimmon tree that blossoms every spring, but the blooms fall off and there have never been any persimmons on this tree. Why not?
A: Plant propagation is an
Ask the Ombudsman
Q: We have a persimmon tree that blossoms every spring, but the blooms fall off and there have never been any persimmons on this tree. Why not?
A: Plant propagation is an interesting topic. Persimmon trees are dioecious, meaning that it takes a male tree to pollinate the blossoms of a female tree. Apparently, you’re lacking a male tree in the immediate vicinity. (Monoecious species, such as oak, have both male and female parts on the same tree—generally on the same limb.)
The story doesn’t end there when it comes to tree reproduction. Trees will also sucker, or sprout, from root growth. This may be a survival method used to overcome damage or disease. Sprouting is also what occurs shortly after a timber harvest. Often, the reproduction is so thick after the cut you can’t walk through the area.
Wildlife and weather play a role, too. Many seeds need a certain amount of cold temperature in order to sprout the following season. And once you get that persimmon to produce, it may take a fox or opossum to eat the fruit and pass the seeds before they’re viable. Without squirrels stashing their winter food supply, new oaks wouldn’t be nearly as prevalent.
The Trees of Missouri Field Guide covers such topics and is a handy guide for identifying trees. It’s nominally priced at $7.50, plus sales tax, shipping and handling. You can order it online from the MDC Natureshope or by phone, toll-free, at (877