Persimmon
Diospyros virginiana
Hardness
Very hard; tough on tools but extremely wear-resistant.
Overview
America's only native ebony relative, extremely hard, dense, and smooth-wearing. The traditional golf club head wood, now prized for tool parts and turning.
Commonly built
- Golf club heads
- Mallets
- Turned handles
- Pool cues
Appearance
Pale yellowish-tan to light brown sapwood (the usable part); the rare dark heartwood is a true streaky black-brown ebony.
Recommended uses
Uses to avoid
Similar species
Comparable on hardness, type, and workability, useful when this species isn't available.
Working notes
Very hard and dense, tough on tools and slow going. Wears extremely smooth, which is why it was used for golf woods and shuttles. High movement; dry carefully. Turns well.
Wood movement
A 24-inch-wide flatsawn persimmon panel moves roughly 0.63 inch across a typical seasonal humidity swing (about 6% to 12% moisture content). Use the wood movement calculator to run your own board size and moisture range.
How much does Persimmon move? → See flatsawn vs. quartersawn figures and a worked example.
Common questions
How hard is Persimmon?
Persimmon has a Janka hardness of 2300 lbf, a measure of how well it resists denting and wear.
Is Persimmon suitable for outdoor use?
Persimmon is best used indoors; it is not naturally suited to sustained outdoor or wet conditions.
How easy is Persimmon to work with?
Persimmon has Difficult workability for cutting, shaping, and joinery.
How much does Persimmon move seasonally?
A 24-inch-wide flatsawn persimmon panel moves roughly 0.63 inch across a typical seasonal humidity swing (about 6% to 12% moisture content).
Community photos
Real photos from woodworkers who've used persimmon, reviewed before they appear here.
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Wood data varies by source and sample. How we source and review our data.