Q: My daughter lives near Washington DC. Her new home has this tree in the back yard. It has just sprouted little bell-shaped flowers. Her husband thinks I might be a fruit tree.

A: Her husband is right! My genius plant ID friend Shannon Pable (www.shannonpable.com) says you have a persimmon.

Common Persimmon

And since the flowers are so skinny, it looks like a male tree

Persimmon Flowers

If this is the case, you’ll need a female to get fruit.