Yes, white-tailed deer eat persimmons, considering the fruit a highly sought-after, energy-dense food source during late fall and early winter. The American persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) is native to the eastern United States. Its seasonal fruit drop is a significant event for wildlife, providing concentrated energy that helps deer prepare for winter.
The Primary Attraction: Ripe Persimmon Fruit
Deer prefer the fruit once it has fully ripened and fallen. Unripe fruit is astringent due to tannins, making it unpalatable.
As the fruit matures, usually around the first frost, the tannins break down, and the persimmon becomes sweet, soft, and aromatic. Composed of simple sugars, the fruit is an excellent energy source for white-tails building fat reserves. Deer often return repeatedly to a single productive female tree until all dropped fruit is consumed.
The gradual fruit drop often lasts a month or more, providing a steady food supply. This extended availability makes persimmon groves attractive feeding locations when other soft mast sources are depleted. Deer consume the pulp and spit out the large seeds and woody calyx, leaving signs of their activity.
Beyond the Fruit: Browse and Tree Consumption
While the fruit is the main draw, deer also consume vegetative parts of the persimmon tree, including leaves, buds, and terminal twigs. This browsing occurs during spring and summer when fruit is unavailable, or during harsh winter periods when other browse species are scarce.
The leaves and twigs serve as a supplemental food source, though they are less preferred than the sugary fruit. Young persimmon trees are vulnerable to browsing damage, as deer eat the tender new growth and buds. Heavy browsing pressure can prevent a small tree from maturing and producing fruit.
Managing Persimmon for Wildlife
Land managers often plant the native American persimmon to enhance wildlife habitat. The American variety is the most suitable choice because it naturally drops its ripe fruit, making it easily accessible to ground-feeding deer. Non-native Asian varieties often hold the fruit on the branch, which can require deer to reach up and potentially damage the tree.
Persimmon trees are dioecious, meaning male and female flowers grow on separate trees; only female trees produce fruit. To maximize production, landowners should identify and protect female trees by scouting for fruit or seeds on the ground during winter. Trees should be placed in full sunlight, which encourages a larger canopy and greater fruit yield.
Protecting new plantings from browsing is necessary, typically by using tree tubes or wire cages around the saplings. These measures prevent deer from nipping off terminal growth, allowing the tree to grow tall enough to escape heavy browsing pressure. Fertilizing and removing competing vegetation around the drip line encourages faster growth and more abundant fruit production.