The leaves are simple and often confused with those of Blackgum. If the leaves are glossy, turn red, or have a few remote teeth, they're Blackgum, not Persimmon. If they're not, it still could be Blackgum - look for fruits or check the number of bundle scars (3 for Blackgum, 1 for Persimmon).

The flowers are small and bell-shaped. Orange Co., NC 5/19/04.

Flower detail. Orange Co., NC 5/19/04.

Robeson Co., NC 5/29/08.

If you have trouble telling Persimmon apart from Blackgum, you can try cutting into the bark. The inner bark of Persimmon turns yellow within a minute. Thanks to Brantley Bowen, Park Ranger at Lumber River State Park, for this tip.

Robeson Co., NC 5/29/08.

Fruits are edible and very tasty when fully ripe.

The branches of Persimmon and Blackgum are more different than the leaves. In Blackgum the main branches tend to be horizontal and the leaves are clustered on short spurs of smooth branches. In Persimmon the main branches are not horizontal, the leaves are more evenly spaced on longer side branches, small branches are hairy, and the buds are blackish.

The distinctive bark is blackish and broken into square plates.