Asimina triloba 'Potomac'

Pawpaw, is a native, understory deciduous tree in the pawpaw family (Annonaceae). The cultivar 'Potomac' is one of the larger varieties, with an upright growth habit, and noted for its mid-season fruit that can weigh up to 3/4 of a pound.

It typically grows best in well-drained, slightly acidic, fertile soil. The bark is smooth with wart-like lenticels. The leaves are alternate, produce a pungent odor when crushed and display a bright yellow fall color. In spring, 6-petaled, purplish-brown flowers mature. Flowers have both male and female parts but are self-incompatible. A genetically different pollen donor (a pollinizer) is needed for fruit production. Plant at least two cultivars that can act as reciprocal pollinizers. The tree produces a 2.5- to 6-inch fruit that matures in late summer to early fall. Hand pollination can lead to heavy fruit set, but fruit clusters should be thinned to one fruit per cluster to maximize fruit size and flesh-to-seed ratio. Wildlife eagerly seeks out the fruits and often beats humans to the harvest.

‘Potomac’ is noted for having large, fleshy fruits. The yellow flesh has a firm, smooth texture. Fruits average 8.3 ounces, and a single tree averages 45 fruits. Some growers have noticed the problem of fruit cracking.

Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. The pawpaw peduncle borer (Talponia plummeriana) is a small moth whose larvae burrow into flower stalks. They can destroy large numbers of flowers. This pest is in NC. The zebra swallowtail butterfly larvae feed on young leaves, but they seldom do permanent damage, nor do they affect fruit yield.

VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Edibles, Bulbs, and Houseplants" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.   

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