Various Kaki persimmon cultivars are sold in local nurseries. Try phoning around to see what is available at this time.

"California orchards now produce commercial quantities, and more of us grow our own but the tree is still uncommon here. The tree is as attractive as it is useful and is easily grown."

--Arthur Lee Jacobson, Trees of Seattle - Second Edition

Here is a link that might be useful: Article - Trees that merit planting in Seattle by Arthur Lee Jacobson

It is very difficult to get a Japanese persimmon to fruit in W. Washington--there just aren't enough heat units. You might try a couple of American persimmon trees. Mine here in Grays Harbor have yet to bear fruit--although one did set fruit last year. None matured, though.

American persimmons may not ripen some years here, but I have picked and eaten ripe ones in Portland. I have seen Kaki persimmons decked with fruit in Seattle, where there are specimens as tall as 35 ft.

Grays Harbor will be significantly cooler in summer than Seattle and other places farther from the coast.

I've heard some reports that the Asian x American hybrids are reasonable bets (with all of the above disclaimers still applying), so I did plant a hybrid 'Nikita's Gift'TM in my front yard two weeks ago during a bare-root tree-planting frenzy. Wish it luck! It's got an unobstructed southern and western exposure so I'm hoping it bears fruit some day. If not, it's a fun experiment....it's got a pair of paw paws on the opposite side of a wide walkway. This area of the garden may get a name change from "experimental" to "fruitless".

Let us know if you give one a try, and how it works out. A link to mine is below.

Take care,
Grant

Here is a link that might be useful: 'Nikita's Gift' hybrid persimmon from Raintree

Since the Kaki persimmons are the ones that work out better here, on the whole, crossing them with American is a step in the wrong direction as far as we are concerned.

I was at Sky nursery (185th & Aurora) today. 4 kinds of Kaki persimmons and 2 kinds of American, in a big block right off the main asphalt path just north of the house they put the geraniums in when those are in season. Front of block marked by a sign with bright orange Kaki persimmons painted on it: PERSIMMONS START HERE. Think if you go check them out you'll be able to find them pretty quickly. Park at the north entrance and walk toward the north greenhouse, then look to the left (east).

I also talked to a friend today who now lives in Seattle but still has a place near Bellingham. He said the Kaki persimmon up there had so much fruit last year they almost had too many. This was the first time it was so productive, last year he also discovered the system he has for dealing with gray water had been backing up and sub-irrigating (and fertilizing) the persimmon.

It's an astringent variety, which he prefers to the non-astringent. They pick the fruit and ripen it indoors (Bellingham area also cooler than Seattle).

Reviving this thread to see if anyone else is growing the American x Japanese hybrid Nikita's Gift? I just planted one from Burnt Ridge and wonder if there are older specimens that have born fruit.

Last year I had close to 100 fruits in a 5 year old Nikita's Gift which did not ripe. Not even one. I live close to Canada border. Hopefully this year.

Dave, thanks for the info. This is very encouraging because I live in Bellevue also and interested in growing one myself. However 8 year is a long time to wait...can you tell me what variety of your tree is? I've ordered a Nikita Gift from Raintree, the description says it will fruit in 3 years. Hope that is the case!