'Fuyu' is the standard by which other non-astringent persimmons are measured, and for good reason. Its flat-bottomed, tomato-shaped fruits are the ones most often found in supermarkets, but growing it in a home garden reveals what the supply chain obscures: a 20- to 30-foot deciduous tree with genuine ornamental presence across all four seasons. Spring brings small cream-colored flowers, summer a full canopy of glossy green, and autumn a brilliant display of gold and orange foliage that drops to expose deep orange fruits hanging like lanterns on bare branches.

Native to eastern Asia, 'Fuyu' thrives in zones 7 to 10, doing best in full sun and loamy, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0 to 6.5. Bloom comes in mid-April, so a late frost is the main hazard in marginal zones. It sets fruit without a pollinator but benefits from a second variety nearby. Harvest when the skin turns deep orange; the fruit can be eaten raw, sliced thin, or used in baking. Root suckers appear occasionally and should be removed unless a multi-stemmed form is the goal.