Potomac Pawpaw Asimina triloba 'Potomac'
- Phonetic Spelling
- ah-SIH-min-ah try-LO-buh
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Asimina triloba, commonly called pawpaw, is a small, native, deciduous tree that can grow 20 to 30 feet tall. While it typically appears in a cluster in alluvial, or other moist, nutrient-rich forests and it tolerates shade in the understory, it needs full sun to ensure fruiting. It typically grows best in well-drained, slightly acidic, fertile soil. It is a slow-growing tree that needs several years to bear fruit. The cultivar, 'Potomac', is one of the larger varieties, with an upright growth habit, and noted for its sweet fruit that can weigh up to 3/4 of a pound.
The leaves are alternate, produce a pungent odor when crushed, and display a bright yellow fall color. The bark is smooth with wart-like lenticels. In spring, 6-petaled, purplish-brown flowers mature. The tree produces a 2.5- to 6 inch fruit that matures in late summer to early fall. The fruit resembles a short, fat banana in size and taste and is the largest fruit native to North America. However, to obtain cross pollination, you need more than one genetic strain.
Wildlife eagerly seek out the fruits and often beat humans to the harvest.
Insect Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No known disease or insect issues. The pawpaw tree produces self-defensive compounds so that insect pests are usually not a problem.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Edibles, Bulbs, and Houseplants" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Asimina
- Species:
- triloba
- Family:
- Annonaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Early Americans made yellow dye from pulp of the ripened fruit.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern Canada to Eastern United States
- Distribution:
- Washington south to New Mexico, Nebraska, Iowa. Parts of Wisconsin, Michigan east to Maine, south to North Carolina and Florida.
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers are pollinated by flies and beetles. Edible flesh fruit eaten by songbirds, wild turkeys, squirrels, raccoons, opossums, black bear, and foxes. This plant supports Zebra Swallowtail (Eurytides marcellus) larvae.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Resistant to fire. Moderately resistant to deer damage. Heat tolerant.
- Edibility:
- Potomac pawpaw produces larger fruit than many cultivars and it is heavy bearing. The yellow fruit has a sweet and smooth taste. Mid season ripening.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Poisonous
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Pyramidal
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6b, 6a, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9b, 9a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- Potomac pawpaw produces larger fruit than many cultivars and it is heavy bearing. The yellow fruit has a sweet and smooth taste. Mid season ripening.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- The purple flowers bloom in spring, but are not showy. Monoecious purplish-brown 6 petal 1-1.5 inch flowers. Foul odor as they are pollinated by flies.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Obovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- It features alternate, simple, oblong green leaves, 6-12 inches long 2-3 inches wide with a green pepper odor when crushed. Droops from the stem. Looks compound but is actually simple. Underside is pale and glaucous. Showy yellow fall color.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Fissured
- Lenticels
- Scaly
- Bark Description:
- Smooth, brown splotched with wart-like lenticels. Becomes fissured and scaly with age.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Bud Scales:
- No scales, covered in hair
- Stem Lenticels:
- Conspicuous
- Stem Surface:
- Corky Ridges
- Stem Description:
- Buds are pubescent with no scales. Young buds and stems are cinnamon brown.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Riparian
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Edible Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Design Feature:
- Flowering Tree
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Fire
- Heat
- Insect Pests
- Problems:
- Contact Dermatitis
- Malodorous
- Poisonous to Humans
