Diversity and content of vitamin C in persimmon germplasm were analyzed using RP–HPLC by taken 87 persimmon germplasm leaves as resources, and 15 out of them were employed to their annual variation research. The results indicated that the vitamin C content in leaves of 15 wild and cultivar genotypes had a complex variation with growing time; the variation coefficient of vitamin C in the related varieties, silvestris persimmon, non-astringent varieties and astringent varieties were 33.21%, 18.61%, 30.89%, and 25.30% respectively, with their respective mean of 13.58, 10.13, 9.98, and 9.21 mg/g; vitamin C content in wild genotypes maintained a higher level from shoots expanding to leave falling period. Content of vitamin C in the 87 persimmon germplasm varied from 1.93 to 23.91 mg/g, with a variation coefficient of 44.17% and a diversity index of 1.96; vitamin C content in wild genotypes was significantly (P < 0.01) higher than that of non-astringent varieties and astringent varieties, whilst, there was no statistical difference between non-astringent varieties and astringent varieties. The persimmon germplasm could be classified into three types (high, medium and low) according to the level of vitamin C content from the result of cluster analysis. Out of 10 germplasm in groups Ⅲ (No.1 of Hunanyeshi, D. viriginiana, D. glaucifolia, Niutoushi, Nanhuaniuxinshi, No.2 of Jiangsuyeshi, No.2 of Hubeiyeshi, Dapinghe, Mengjinhongshi and No.1 of Hubeiyeshi) were rich in vitamin C.