Cliff Johnson accepted the Tree Commission’s Tree Stewardship Award on behalf of the Congregation of Belmont Baptist Church in November 2008. For many years, Cliff has done a good job of caring for a Common Persimmon tree (Diospyros virginiana) on the grounds of the church, which is located at the intersection of Sproul and Paxon Hollow Roads. A native tree, this Common Persimmon stands 30’ tall.

In May and June, Common Persimmon has fragrant, white, pea-sized flowers with male and female flowers occurring on different trees. Female trees, like the one at Belmont Baptist Church, bear yellowish red to pale orange, edible fruit (1” – 1 ½” in diameter) in early fall. The tree’s leaves turn yellow to reddish purple in late fall. Common Persimmon is an extremely tough tree that tolerates very dry soil. Despite its many assets, Common Persimmon is rarely available in commerce. Most specimens are transplanted seedlings from the wild.