A persimmon tree is a tree of the genus Diospyros grown throughout East Asia and other temperate regions for its edible orange fruit, the persimmon. In art, it is commonly depicted during autumn or winter, with bright orange fruit remaining on otherwise bare branches after the leaves have fallen. Persimmon trees are a recurring seasonal motif in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean art.
While not as laden with meaning as the Japanese Cherry Blossom, Persimmons do have some special connotations in China and Korea:
In Korean culture specifically, the persimmon (감, gam) is very familiar and traditional. Dried persimmons (곶감, gotgam) are a classic Korean food, and persimmon trees are common in rural landscapes. They can evoke a feeling of home, countryside, autumn, and tradition.
