Generally — Most Areas
persimmon (zones 4-9) partially overlaps with Maryland (5b-8a). It can grow in zones 5-8 within the state.
Your yard isn't the whole zone.
Maryland spans zones 5b-8a, but your yard sits in exactly one — and slope, tree cover, and cold-air pockets nudge it further. Enter your address and we'll score persimmon against your parcel's actual hardiness, soil, and sun.
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Zone Comparison
Persimmon Needs
- USDA Zones: 4-9
- Soil pH: 5.8 - 8
- Sun: Full Sun
- Drainage: well (dry spells)
- Frost-Free Days: 240+
Maryland Has
- USDA Zones: 5b-8a
- Last Frost: Mar 25 - May 5
- First Frost: Oct 5 - Nov 5
- Annual Rainfall: 36-48 inches
- Common Soils: Silt loam, Clay, Sandy loam (Eastern Shore)
Plant Zone Range (zones 4-9)
Preferred Soil pH
Plant data: USDA PLANTS Database / plant_species_v5.csv. State data: USDA ARS PHZM 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, NRCS SSURGO.
When to Plant Persimmon in Maryland
The frost window
Across Maryland, the last spring frost clears between Mar 25 and May 5, and the first fall frost lands between Oct 5 and Nov 5 (NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020). Counting from the latest last frost to the earliest first frost, that's a 153-day window you can count on — up to 225 days on a mild site in a kind year.
Frost tenderness
Persimmon is frost-tender — its listed minimum temperature is 50°F (USDA PLANTS Database) — so set plants out after the last frost has cleared your local site, not the state's earliest date.
Establishment timing
As a long-lived plant, persimmon isn't racing the calendar to a harvest date. Plant it in spring once the last-frost window passes so roots settle in through the full season, or in early fall while the soil still holds summer warmth.
Timing tuned to sub-state frost dates — Garrett County, not the statewide average.
Frost window: NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020. Plant timing fields: USDA PLANTS Database. Your site's own frost dates can run earlier or later than the state range — a parcel report pins them down.
Growing Season Fit
Zone compatibility says you can survive winter here. Whether the growing season is long enough — and warm enough — is a different question.
Frost-free days
Persimmon wants 240+ frost-free days; a typical Maryland site sees ~190 (NOAA Climate Normals). That leaves tight; use transplants and pick early-maturing cultivars.
Growing degree days
Persimmon needs ~2500 GDD (base 50°F) to ripen. The state median runs ~3500 GDD (USDA NRCS county aggregates), so Maryland's typical season clears that easily.
Chill hours
Persimmon requires ~600 chill hours (32-45°F dormancy window). Maryland typically banks ~1200 chill hours per winter (MSU Extension method), which keeps this plant on track.
Climate aggregates derive from USDA NRCS county-level hardiness data + Cornell CALS Extension GDD-by-region tables + MSU Extension chill-hours-by-zone (1991-2020 NOAA Climate Normals baseline).
Soil + Drainage Fit
Persimmon likes near-neutral soil (pH 5.8-8). That's the common-ground band across Maryland's silt loam and clay — a soil test confirms it for your site. Drainage matters: this plant wants well (dry spells). If your Maryland site is heavier clay or sits in a low spot, raised beds or amendment with compost solve it.
Your land, not the state average
Whether persimmon thrives in Maryland comes down to drainage, and SSURGO drainage class flips from well-drained to poorly-drained parcel to parcel — your soil map unit, not the state average, is the real answer.
Check your parcel → Source: USDA NRCS SSURGO.
Plant pH and drainage requirements from USDA PLANTS Database. Maryland soil profile from USDA NRCS SSURGO. Site-specific verification: a 30-minute soil test from your local Extension lab.
Persimmon in Maryland — Quick Answer
- Verdict: Generally — Most Areas
- Plant Zones: 4-9 (USDA PLANTS Database)
- State Zones: 5b-8a (USDA ARS PHZM 2023)
- Growing Season: Mar 25 - May 5 to Oct 5 - Nov 5 (NOAA Climate Normals)
- Days to Maturity: 1825 days
What Else to Consider
Zone compatibility tells you about winter cold survival — but Maryland growers also need to think about:
Heavy Piedmont clay drains poorly
A raised bed today, compost every fall — Piedmont clay becomes an asset once the drainage is yours.
Humidity and heat in summer promote disease
Morning watering at the base, room to breathe between plants, resistant varieties — the humid-summer basics, per your extension.
Deer pressure in suburban areas is extreme
A tall fence is the answer that holds; for everything outside it, lean toward the plants deer reliably skip.
Growing persimmon here specifically
Persimmon rates to USDA zones 4–9 and is hardy to about 50°F, but cold isn't the risk in Maryland — wet is: with roughly 16.1% of its soils poorly-drained (SSURGO), soggy ground rots the crown.
Give persimmon a raised bed or mounded row with coarse amendment so its crown never sit wet. How to handle it →
Timing shifts within Maryland
Maryland isn't one climate. In Garrett County, the last hard freeze (28°F) holds until about Apr 5 — roughly 28 days later than the recorded state median — so plant persimmon to your county's window, not the statewide date.
County last-freeze dates: NOAA/PRISM Climate Normals 1991-2020, 28°F threshold (earlier than the folk 32°F "last frost"). A parcel report resolves your address's own frost dates.
Pollinator + Wildlife Value
Persimmon draws pollinators (moderate value, USDA PLANTS Database). Planting it near vegetable beds can lift fruit set on neighboring crops.
Good to Know Before You Plant Persimmon
Persimmon is listed as toxic to dogs (seeds) at a mild level (ASPCA). Most listed plants only cause brief upset — a raised bed or a fenced corner usually keeps curious pets clear.
Maryland Cooperative Extension
For Maryland-specific cultivar recommendations, planting calendars, and pest pressure for persimmon, the canonical source is University of Maryland Extension. Their fact sheets carry the local trial data we can't generalize across 50 states.
Is Persimmon native to Maryland?
Yes — the USDA PLANTS Database (accessed 2026-07-01) documents Persimmon as native to Maryland. Planting it supports the pollinators and wildlife that evolved alongside it.
Native-range data: USDA PLANTS Database state-distribution records, accessed 2026-07-01.
Common Questions About Growing Persimmon in Maryland
When can I plant Persimmon in Maryland?
Maryland's last spring frost clears between Mar 25 and May 5, and the first fall frost lands between Oct 5 and Nov 5 (NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020). Persimmon is a long-lived planting, so target spring just after your local last frost — or early fall while the soil holds warmth — and let it establish through the season.
What hardiness zone is Persimmon grown in across Maryland?
Maryland spans USDA hardiness zones 5b-8a (USDA ARS PHZM 2023). Persimmon carries a range of zones 4-9, so the overlap zones are where outdoor growing is most reliable.
How many frost-free days does a typical Maryland site have?
A typical Maryland site sees ~190 frost-free days per year (derived from NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020). Persimmon needs 240+ frost-free days, so check whether your local microclimate runs above or below the state average before settling on a planting date. In cooler counties like Garrett, the freeze-free season runs shorter than the state average, so verify your own county's window.
Is Persimmon native to Maryland?
Yes — the USDA PLANTS Database (accessed 2026-07-01) documents Persimmon as native to Maryland. Planting it supports the pollinators and wildlife that evolved alongside it.
How should I amend the soil for Persimmon in Maryland?
Persimmon prefers pH 5.8-8 and well (dry spells) drainage (USDA PLANTS Database). That sits in the common-ground band across Maryland soils — a 30-minute soil test from a local Extension lab confirms it for your specific site.
Will Persimmon actually grow on my specific land in Maryland?
State-level zone + climate data is a sketch. A Growable Ground parcel report scores persimmon against your address's exact soil pH, drainage, sun, and frost-date data drawn from USDA SSURGO, NOAA, and PRISM — not state averages.
Check your specific parcel in Maryland
State-level data is a sketch. Your Growable Ground report scores persimmon against your parcel's exact soil, sun, drainage, and frost data — not zone averages.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Analysis by the Growable Ground research team, grounded in USDA PLANTS, USDA NRCS SSURGO, NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020), and named Cooperative Extension sources. How we know →