Persimmon
The American Persimmon tree, Diospyrus virginiana, is a native fruit tree with attractive edible fruit. Its dark-green leaves conceal small fragrant white flowers that are replaced by pale-orange fruits, which ripen after frost. While persimmon grows on many kinds of soils, it attains its greatest size on sandy, clay soil in bottoms. It is one of the first invaders of old fields with the seeds brought in by wild birds and animals. The leaf is rather leathery and dark green. Its average length is about 4 inches. Persimmon trees are well known for its delicious orange fruit and bark which resembles alligator hide. This deciduous tree provides fruit for birds and the buds and leaves are a source of food for deer, opossum, gray and fox squirrel, quail, raccoon, wild turkey, red and gray fox and coyote. It is very important as a wildlife food. Persimmon wood is hard and dense. It is used for golf club heads, handles for files and carving tools, billiard cues, shuttles and mallets. Plant a persimmon at the woodland's edge or in an open field. The bright green leaves change to a bright golden yellow in the fall making this tree highly prized as an ornamental tree. Our Persimmon trees are unsexed. Approximately 90% of our Persimmons are females, so purchasing 10 or more should insure fruiting. In a good environment and with good care, fruiting will begin in year six and continues for fifty years or more. ... additional info
Prairie Gold Aspen The Prairie Gold Quaking Aspen, 'Populus tremuloides ‘Prairie Gold’, is a fast-growing tree that grows in everything from moist sandy soil to shallow rocky soils and clay. It has attractive cream-colored bark, beautiful silvery catkins in early spring, and lustrous dark green leaves that flutter in the slightest breeze, finally turning yellow in fall. This selection was discovered growing near a northeast Nebraska creek by the late, dedicated plants man, Allen Wilke, where it had survived and thrived for years. ‘Prairie Gold’ has performed well in the landscape and seems to thrive in the heat and high humidity of eastern Nebraska. This selection does not seem to be affected by the host of diseases that usually plague this species. It should perform well in other parts of the Great Plains and the front range of the Rockies as well. .
