Persimmon
Diospyros virginiana · hardwood · Southeastern US · high movement
- Janka hardness 2,300 lbfred oak ≈ 1,290 lbf
- Density ≈ 52 lb/ft³specific gravity 0.74 at 12% MC
- Shrinkage — tangential 11.2%flatsawn width, green → ovendry
- Shrinkage — radial 7.9%quartersawn width
- T/R ratio 1.4 : 1higher = more cupping in flatsawn stock
Shop notes America’s ebony relative — golf-club-head hard with movement numbers to respect. Small, dense projects only.
Seasonal movement at a glance
Width change for persimmon across a typical indoor year — 6% moisture content in the heated winter to 12% in a humid summer:
| Board width | Flatsawn | Quartersawn |
|---|---|---|
| 6″ | 5/32″ (0.144″) | 3/32″ (0.102″) |
| 12″ | 9/32″ (0.288″) | 7/32″ (0.203″) |
| 24″ | 9/16″ (0.576″) | 13/32″ (0.406″) |
| 36″ | 7/8″ (0.864″) | 5/8″ (0.609″) |
Run your own numbers
Different width, different climate swing — the calculator below is preset to persimmon:
Typical swings:
Persimmon questions
How much does persimmon move with the seasons?
A 12″-wide flatsawn persimmon board moves about 9/32″ across a typical indoor swing from 6% to 12% moisture content; quartersawn, about 7/32″. Its tangential shrinkage is 11.2% and radial 7.9% (green to ovendry) — a high-movement wood.
How hard is persimmon?
Persimmon rates about 2,300 lbf on the Janka scale — noticeably harder than red oak (red oak is roughly 1,290 lbf). Density runs about 52 lb/ft³ at indoor moisture levels.
Is persimmon good for wide panels and tabletops?
Yes, with normal precautions: its 1.4:1 tangential-to-radial ratio is unusually balanced, so panels stay flatter than most. Still fasten solid tops so they can move across their width.
Similar species
Jatoba (Brazilian Cherry) · Pignut Hickory · Purpleheart · African Padauk · Wenge · Shagbark Hickory
Shrinkage, specific gravity, and hardness from the Wood Handbook, FPL-GTR-282 (2021 edition), USDA Forest Products Laboratory (public domain). Values are species averages — individual boards vary with growth conditions and how they were dried.