Asia-Temperate: Caucasus: Armenia; Azerbaijan; Georgia China: China - Anhui, - Zhejiang, - Henan, - Hebei, - Hunan, - Hubei, - Gansu, - Jiangxi, - Jiangsu, - Guizhou, - Liaoning, - Shanxi, - Shandong, - Shaanxi, - Sichuan, - Yunnan, - Xizang Eastern Asia: Korea Middle Asia: Tajikistan; Turkmenistan; Uzbekistan Western Asia: Iran; Turkey Asia-Tropical: Indian Subcontinent: Nepal; Pakistan
Diospyros lotus, with common names date-plum, Caucasian persimmon, or lilac persimmon, is a widely cultivated species of the genus Diospyros, native to subtropical southwest Asia and southeast Europe. Its English name derives from the small fruit, which have a taste reminiscent of both plums and dates. It is among the oldest plants in cultivation.
Widely cultivated. Its English name derives from the small fruit, which have a taste reminiscent of both plums and dates. It is among the oldest plants in cultivation. Used as a rootstock for California persimmons. The lotus persimmon (Diospyros lotus) is not a satisfactory rootstock for the Fuyu variety in California, but works decently for Hachiya persimmons, although it may invigorate young trees. It probably was introduced into North America when seeds were received at the Arnold Arboretum in
1884 from the Imperial Botanical Garden at St. Petersburg.