Potomac Pawpaw Asimina triloba 'Potomac'
- Phonetic Spelling
- ah-SIH-min-ah try-LO-buh
- Description
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Pawpaw is a small native deciduous tree. It will appear in a cluster when in the understory, but it needs full sun to ensure fruiting. The pawpaw tree produces self-defensive compounds so that the pest is usually not a problem. It is a slow-growing tree that needs several years to bear.
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
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Distribution:
- USA
- 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
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Pyramidal
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
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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 pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5b, 5a, 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a, 8b, 8a
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Fruit:
- 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:
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- The not showy purple flower blooms in spring.
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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
- Hairs Present:
- No
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Problems:
- Malodorous
