"Could the tree have been damaged or killed in last nights frost?"

Not the tree, but certainly the leaves, and possibly the tiniest twigs. I'm guessing it would take lower temps for a longer period to do in the whole tree in that situation, but it is certainly not uncommon for trees that are not hardened off to be killed by sudden severe cold, both in spring and fall. Once established, it is unlikely that your persimmon would be still growing vigorously at this time of the year, and so go through the usual fall colors, etc...

Suggest you dig it up so that you can plant it farther from the fence.

yea fab. Hoping you're right that tree is gonna be fine and leaves are the only causality at this point. Do you winter protect persimmon?

Hi Jean. The fence is 4 foot do was hoping to shape tree to branch higher than fence and thought to maximize yard space that's why I placed there. Think that's a bad idea?

"Do you winter protect persimmon?"

I have yet to try oriental persimmon in the ground, and I would almost certainly need to protect in my climate to be successful. In your zone 8, there should not be any need, only the dangers we're talking about here with freak freezes.

Here are pictures today. Notice how leaves have wilted and dried.
I can exchange tree at nursery but not sure if Im jumping the gun here. Does it seem fine and I should just wait it out or replace it?

dried up

day before frost.

today. (2 days after "before")

Persimmon leaves and new growth in spring are very frost tender. Your tree is very likely fine. Only the leaves have been killed. If you scratch off outer bark and the cambium layer is brown then that area is dead but maybe not larger limbs.

The leaves on my 'Tam Kam' persimmon do the same thing every year after a frost or two. They just dry up and fall off.

you must not rule out transplant shock as a potential cause ... along with the temps ...

had it not been transplanted.. it might have been damaged by temps ... not to mention relocation shock ... etc ..

is this plant evergreen in your zone??? ..monrovia indicates its deciduous ... leaf damage in late fall from temps would be irrelevant .... see link

i would also immediately move it ... its already in shock.. get it set properly ... and it should be all settled in for spring

good luck

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: link

The diameter of the trunk of that tree may start to push against that fence some day. Fuyus are "evergreen" here...pretty certain they won't be evergreen there. May be well into the spring before you see leaf formation however. I hope you get enough heat units on the summer.

Time to change a stake.

thanks all. When I look close at the leaves it seems that the stems have some life but the leaves them selfs aer 90 to 100 percent dried up. I would assume that the limbs are fine then. Only time will tell.

the fence is about a 1 and a half feet from truck. i assumed truck would not get thicker than a foot and as is should have room if it got even bigger.... I am hoping i can get even close to that level of maturity. :)

harbin is right, either properly stake the tree or (IMHO the best solution) don't stake it. But pull the worthless nursery stake.

Yes it's seems to have outgrown the stake but it still so skinny yet tall (5') so I kept it for a bit more support little as it be. The graft at the base is pretty bent too. Should I get an 8' stake? Or nothing..
Also there are a few spots where bark is open revealing tree center. Would it be wise to tape them with something or leave them alone?

tree today

bark issue. What should i do with this?

the other area..