Texas Yellow Star (Lindheimera texana)

olreader, Oh, you're talking about Diospyros virginiana (Amercian, Eastern, Common,...). My mind had gone straight to Diospyros texana (Texas, Mexican, Black), which seems the more familiar "wild" persimmon used here; a smaller tree with much smoother bark. After looking at photos of the leaves, flowers, and bark of d. virginiana, am pretty certain you are right. We're on the western edge of their southern distribution, so is even possible they are natives. The following photo shows the alternate leaves and smooth margins a bit better. nel5397, Seems you got it right on the first guess.... it was just the other North American wild persimmon :-) A beautiful tree we don't run into that often in neighborhoods around here. Thanks to all for the help! Here is a link that might be useful: Common persimmon factsheet (VT) This post was edited by bostedo on Fri, May 9, 14 at 14:05

Exactly! Thanks, jekeesl! It's attractive, but fear it may be about as "easy" to contain as the native trumpet vines that took hold on the other side of our lot.

it sounds like you are describing the trout lily, also known as dog-toothed violet. they are a native and a "spring emphemeral," in that they completely disappear by summer. they usually bloom around the opening of trout season (first sat. in april). check this out: http://main.nc.us/naturenotebook/plants/troutlily.html