The persimmon is found from Rhode Island to Florida and west to Kansas and Texas. In Ohio, this tree occurs south of Columbus. It is frequent in the counties drained by the Ohio River. Persimmons rarely exceed 50 feet in height and 18 inches in diameter. Leaves have pointed tips and entire leaf margins.
Foliage is glabrous, glossy, dark green above, and paler beneath.
Common Persimmon Terminal buds are absent. The broad, egg-shaped lateral buds are imbricate and have three outer scales. The twigs are reddish-brown with rather large, chambered pith. The mature bark is deeply furrowed and breaks into dark gray to black square blocks separated by furrows that are cinnamon-red along the bottom. Flowers are dioecious, yellow to white, and bloom in May or June.