Diospyros virginiana In respect to the power of making heartwood, the persimmon rarely develops any heartwood until it is nearly one hundred years old. This heartwood is extremely close-grained and almost black, resembling ebony (of which it is a true variety). It is a common misconception persimmon fruit needs frost to ripen and soften, called bletting. Some, such as the early-ripening varieties "pieper" and "NC21"(also known as "supersweet"), easily lose astringency and become completely free of it when slightly soft at the touch—these are then very sweet, even in the British climate. On the other hand, some varieties (like the very large
Diospyros decandra Diospyros decandra Diospyros decandra, is a tropical tree in the ebony family. Its flowers are white. It is a popular tree in Vietnam where it is grown in urban areas and close to temples. It is called "cây thị" in Vietnamese and it has appeared in Vietnamese folklore, such as "The Story of Tam and Cam". It is also the provincial tree of Chanthaburi Province, Thailand; its Thai name is ลูกจัน "luuk-jan". It is a small plant (about 5–6 m tall). Its leaves are 6–8 cm long and 3–4 cm wide with a pointed tip. Its fruits are yellow-colored and