A Comprehensive Analysis of Triumph, Hudson, and South Florida Persimmon Trees for South Florida Cultivation
This article, dives into three persimmon varieties—Triumph, Hudson, and the local "South Florida" persimmon—exploring their fit for South Florida’s subtropical climate. With over twenty years in fruit tree cultivation and sales, I’m here to help gardeners pick the best variety for a thriving harvest in our unique region.
Lets explore Triumph, Hudson, and the "South Florida" persimmon, We will look at their traits, origins, and care needs, while sorting out the naming confusion and availability issues.
Introduction to Persimmon Varieties and South Florida’s Climate
South Florida’s warm, frost-free climate offers both opportunities and hurdles for growing fruit trees. Most fruit trees need chill hours to break dormancy and bear fruit, but persimmons, especially some varieties, can do well here with almost no cold time. Known for their sweet fruit and attractive look, persimmon trees vary in how they adapt to our heat and minimal chill hours—usually less than 100 a year.
Triumph Persimmon: A Sweet treat after becoming fully ripe, The hard to Find
Triumph persimmon stands out for South Florida due to its adaptability, though it’s tough to get your hands on trees and fruit.
- Origin and Development: Triumph was developed in Israel, likely from Japanese persimmon cultivars, chosen for its commercial value. It’s naturally astringent, meaning it’s bitter and dry until ripe, but a carbon dioxide treatment removes this, making it non-astringent and edible when firm—sold as Sharon Fruit.
- Characteristics: The fruit is small to medium, squarish, and bright orange-red. Once treated or fully ripe, it’s very sweet and juicy, with a sugar content of 22-24 brix, tasting almost like honey. It ripens from October to February, matching our long growing season.
- Suitability for South Florida: Triumph fits our warm climate well, needing little to no chill hours, so it fruits reliably here. It’s hardy across zones that include South Florida, and local growers have praised its performance.
- Availability: Despite its appeal, Triumph is very difficult to source locally. Supplies are scarce, making it a rare find for home gardeners, often limited to specialty nurseries with inconsistent stock.
- Important Note on Astringency: Without treatment, Triumph is astringent until fully ripe and soft. For home growers, this means waiting for it to ripen naturally unless you can treat it, which isn’t practical for most.
An interesting twist is the Israeli method of treating Triumph with carbon dioxide to remove astringency, making it seedless and coreless—a big plus for markets. This process isn’t common elsewhere and adds to its allure, though its scarcity here keeps it elusive.
Hudson Persimmon: The South Florida Gem, is easier to find
Hudson is a lesser-known variety that shines in South Florida, appreciated for its resilience and better availability than Triumph.
- Origin and Characteristics: Hudson’s exact origins are murky, but it’s thought to be a local selection, possibly grafted onto native persimmon roots for better adaptation. Details on its fruit—like size, shape, or color—are hard to pin down, but it’s productive and likely astringent, needing to ripen fully to be tasty.
- Suitability for South Florida: It thrives across Florida, especially in our southern heat, with low chill needs that suit our climate. It handles high temperatures and humidity well, making it a solid pick.
- Availability: Though not widely abundant, Hudson is more available than Triumph. Dr. Richard Campbell, a tropical fruit expert, notes it’s easier to find, offering a practical option for local gardeners.
- Relation to South Florida and Tropical Persimmon: Dr. Campbell says the South Florida variety is really Hudson, and many agree they’re the same, with South Florida possibly a marketing name—sometimes called Tropical Persimmon. This naming reflects its fit for our area.
South Florida Persimmon: Hudson by Another Name, Just as Good
The "South Florida persimmon" label muddies the waters—it might be a specific variety or just a catch-all for trees that grow well here. Many believe it’s Hudson, with the name South Florida used for marketing, and some call it Tropical Persimmon too.
- Clarification: Local chatter often swaps South Florida for Hudson and Tropical Persimmon, showing its regional fit. There’s no official "South Florida" variety, but Zill Plants in West Palm Beach does use that name and it’s likely a nickname for Hudson or similar adapted types.
- Relation to Tropical Persimmon: The Tropical Persimmon tag adds confusion, sometimes tied to Triumph but also used for Hudson/South Florida, reflecting marketing flair for our climate.
- Suitability and Perception: Growers who plant South Florida—likely Hudson—say it matches Triumph for growing here, praising its adaptability and output, even if it’s astringent until ripe.
- Choose Triumph if you want sweet, potentially non-astringent fruit after treatment, but expect a hunt to find it.
- Choose Hudson or South Florida if you want a local, more available option, fine with waiting for ripeness, and many say it’s just as good as Triumph.
Here’s how to grow these persimmons successfully:
- Site Selection: Pick a spot with full sun—at least 6 hours daily—and well-drained soil to avoid root rot.
- Planting: Dig a hole three times the root ball’s width, backfill with local soil, and water well to settle it.
- Watering: Water regularly the first year, then switch to deep, less frequent watering for strong roots.
- Fertilization: Use a balanced fertilizer like 10-10-10 in early spring and mid-summer, following about half of the package rates. They don't like too much fertilizer and can do well even without much fertilizer - unless you see signs of deficiencies.
- Pruning: Prune lightly in late winter, removing dead or damaged branches for shape and airflow.
- Troubleshooting:
- Use shade cloth for young trees in extreme heat to prevent stress.
- Check for fungal issues like leaf spots, prune for air circulation, and use fungicides if needed.
- Watch for pests like aphids, treating with neem oil or other safe methods.
- Triumph: Treat it for non-astringency or let it ripen fully until soft.
- Hudson and South Florida: are astringent, so wait for full ripeness—soft to the touch—before eating.
Conclusion
Triumph, Hudson, and the "South Florida" persimmon (likely Hudson, also called Tropical Persimmon) are great for South Florida gardeners. Triumph offers sweet fruit after treatment but is hard to find. Hudson, more available and just as good, matches Triumph’s appeal for our climate. Understanding their traits lets you choose wisely for a fruitful garden.
