Noted for their fruit and handsome foliage, Diospyros are deciduous trees and shrubs with bold leaves and fleshy, colorful fruit. Resembling tomatoes, the fruit might be round, lobed, flattened, in various shades of red to orange to yellow. Although some kakis can be eaten crisp, most persimmons have a smooth, jelly-like texture and a honey-like sweetness. Beautiful all summer, decorative fruit in the fall, attractive bark in winter, few pests and diseases, little or no pruning required, delicious fruit - Diospyros, means 'fruit of the gods'. A well-deserved name!