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Asimina triloba 'Wabash'

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
ah-SIH-min-ah try-LO-buh
Description

Pawpaw is a small native deciduous tree. Plant in the full sun, to partial shade, though full-sun ensures adequate fruiting. Prefers well-drained, deep, slightly acidic fertile soil.

It will appear in clusters when planted in the understory, but it needs full sun to ensure fruiting. The pawpaw tree produces self-defensive compounds so that pests are usually not a problem. It is a slow-growing tree that needs several years to bear fruit. Fruits can be messy on hard surfaces, but plants do need a male and female to produce fruit so you can avoid this problem by planting only one plant.  The plant is easily propagated by scarified seed that is sown in the fall.  

 

 

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

More information on Asimina triloba.

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Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#slow growing#understory tree#messy#yellow fruits#edible fruits#fragrant fruits#larval host plant#food source summer#fall color yellow#pollinizer#butterfly friendly#tropical feel#paw paw#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#slow growing#understory tree#messy#yellow fruits#edible fruits#fragrant fruits#larval host plant#food source summer#fall color yellow#pollinizer#butterfly friendly#tropical feel#paw paw#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Asimina
    Species:
    triloba
    Family:
    Annonaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Wildlife Value:
    Larval host plant for Zebra Swallowtail (Eurytides marcellus) butterflies and Pawpaw sphinx (Dolba hyloeus) moths. Opossums, squirrels, raccoons and birds enjoy the fruits.
    Edibility:
    Wabash pawpaw produces very large sweet fruit. It is heavy bearing with great quality. Ripens in mid season.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Edible
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Broad
    Erect
    Multi-trunked
    Pyramidal
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Slow
    Texture:
    Coarse
  • 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
    Available Space To Plant:
    12-24 feet
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Fragrant
    Fruit Type:
    Berry
    Fruit Length:
    > 3 inches
    Fruit Description:
    Very large, 6" long, cylindric sweet green to yellow berry. It is heavy bearing with great quality. Ripens in mid season. Several dark brown seeds inside.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Purple/Lavender
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Insignificant
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Shape:
    Bell
    Flower Petals:
    6 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    Non-showy purple flowers born singly that hang down like a bell with 6 petals 1 1/2" across. Blooms in spring. Needs cross pollination to produce fruits.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Smooth
    Soft
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Oblong
    Obovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    It features alternate, simple, oblong-elliptic green tropical looking leaves. Tips are pointed base is narrow, entire margin, young leaves have rust colored hairs on the bottom, which smooth out and pale as they age. 12" long 6" wide. Showy yellow fall color.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Light Gray
    Surface/Attachment:
    Smooth
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Red/Burgundy
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Leaf Scar Shape:
    C-shaped, Cresent shaped
    Stem Surface:
    Smooth (glabrous)
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Edible Garden
    Design Feature:
    Shade Tree
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Moths
    Small Mammals
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Heavy Shade
    Insect Pests
    Problems:
    Malodorous
    Messy