The species area extends from East Asia to the west of the Mediterranean, down to Spain. The date-plum is native to southwest Asia and southeast Europe. It was known to the ancient Greeks as "God's fruit" (, "Diós pŷrós"), hence the scientific name of the genus. Its English name probably derives from Persian "Khormaloo" خرمالو literally "date-plum", referring to the taste of this fruit which is reminiscent of both plums and dates. The fruit is called "Amlok" املوک in Pakistan and consumed dried. This species is one candidate for the "lotus tree" mentioned in "The Odyssey": it was so delicious that those who ate it forgot about returning home and wanted to stay and eat lotus with the lotus-eaters.