Diospyros kaki trade name for non-astringent "D. kaki" fruit. "Diospyros kaki" is commonly called Japanese persimmon, Chinese persimmon, kaki (from Japanese name 柿, "kaki"), "kaki" persimmon, and Oriental persimmon. The scientific name "Diospyros kaki" L. f. may be used erroneously for this plant. However, "Diospyros kaki" L. f., published in 1781, is a later homonym of "Diospyros kaki" Thunb., published in 1780. So the name "Diospyros kaki" L. f. is taxonomically illegitimate and not accepted. Similar in shape to an apple tree, the "kaki" tree reaches a size of up to . Its deciduous leaves are medium to dark green, broadly lanceolate,
Diospyros virginiana to vary in the character and quality of its fruit, in size this varies from that of a large cherry to a small apple. Some trees in the south produce fruit that is delicious without the action of the frost, while adjoining trees produce fruit that never becomes edible. It was brought to England before 1629 and is cultivated, but rarely if ever ripens its fruit. It is easily raised from seed and can also be propagated from stolons, which are often produced in great quantity. The tree is hardy in the south of England and in the Channel Islands.