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["Lucky.PIttman@murraystate.edu" <Lucky.PIttman@murraystate.edu>]

Alan,

In addition to the Asian & American persimmon
selections, there are a few hybrids available.

Rosseyanka, a  Russian-bred hybrid of
D.virginianaXkaki, is hardy & productive here - and
also does well for Jerry Lehman, up at Terre Haute,
so it'd work.  It's an astringent-til-ripe variety,
with fruits larger(2-2.5" fruit) than the typical
American - it ripens late, and the fruits hang well
on the tree - I usually have to snip them loose;
calyx stays attached.  They're more like the kaki
parent in flavor/consistency, and the 'skin' is
fairly 'tough', like that of an astringent kaki.

'Keener' is reputed by some to be a D.v.XD.k. hybrid;
I don't know - it produces a very large fruit -
similar in size to Rosseyanka, but it's very similar
in texture and flavor to all American persimmons, in
my estimation - though it does have more 'fiber' in
it than most Americans.

There's also a newer variety - Nikita's Gift? - that
is, if I recall correctly, a seedling of Rosseyanka,
backcrossed to D.kaki.  I don't have it, nor any
experience with it; Jerry has or has had it in his
plantings, but it sustains freeze damage on a regular
basis, from what he's told me.  

Lucky