Can this tree be saved?

So this spring, I planted two persimmon bare-root trees. Both planted in full sun, about 20' from each other. Identical growing conditions. One is doing fine, with plenty of nice growth. The other, though, has yet to produce any leaves. It made a bunch of buds, and then just kinda stopped. It's still alive, based on green when I scratch the bark. Is there anything I can do to encourage it to leaf out, or is it just done for?

The whole tree

Are the two trees the same variety? I have different varieties and they leaf out up to two weeks apart.

I think keep an eye on soil moisture, not waterlogged but never too dry, until it either shapes up or dies. Mulch is helpful for this, but don't be afraid to part that mulch a little and feel the soil. While it's alive, there's hope. If it dies, you can probably grow something else, so there's hope. (If it doesn't make it, I suggest trying to grow something cheap until (or unless) you can determine the soil is okay there.)

I think your tree is probably OK. Your scratch test shows a healthy-looking cambium layer. Bare root persimmon trees are known for taking a long time to leaf out, and some varieties can take much longer than others. So just keep watering your trees, maybe mulch them like T Melville said and soon the late one should leaf out. I've read about some bare-root persimmons waiting till early or even mid summer before they leaf out. Check out this post from a California grower on growingfruit.org:

https://growingfruit.org/t/very-late-first-year-persimmon/54884

M.K. Dorje Sr. wrote:I think your tree is probably OK. Your scratch test shows a healthy-looking cambium layer. Bare root persimmon trees are known for taking a long time to leaf out, and some varieties can take much longer than others. So just keep watering your trees, maybe mulch them like T Melville said and soon the late one should leaf out. I've read about some bare-root persimmons waiting till early or even mid summer before they leaf out. Check out this post from a California grower on growingfruit.org:

https://growingfruit.org/t/very-late-first-year-persimmon/54884

This is encouraging. They're 2 different varieties. The one that's growing is a Rosseyanka, the one with no leaves is a Nikita's Gift. I'll just leave it for now, and keep an eye on moisture.

Could your "sick" one have an infestation of scale insects?  Those lumps on the bark look a bit suss to me but I've been unable to find any images of what the bark is supposed to look like.  Maybe this is a later growing variety since it is a US type crossed with a Russian one.  Best of luck resolving the problem.

Jill Dyer wrote:Could your "sick" one have an infestation of scale insects?  Those lumps on the bark look a bit suss to me but I've been unable to find any images of what the bark is supposed to look like.  Maybe this is a later growing variety since it is a US type crossed with a Russian one.  Best of luck resolving the problem.

That was my thought also.  I tried to look at different barks though I was not sure.

Maybe an application of compost tea might help.

I grow several different varieties of Persimmons.  They are slow in many ways including growth.  I've always had really good luck with giving them time in a situation like the one you have on your hands.  I would just treat it like the other tree this year and see what happens.  They've surprised me several times over the years.  Just my two cents worth.