Asimina triloba 'Wells'
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ah-SIH-mi-nah try-LO-bah
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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The Wells pawpaw is a hybrid of the common pawpaw tree in the Annonaceae family that was collected from the wild in Salem, Indiana by David Wells in 1990.
The tree reaches 15 to 20 feet tall and is not self-fertile so another variety will need to be planted nearby. Plant in sun to partial shade in fertile, well-drained soil. See this NC State article for more information on growing pawpaws.
'Wells blooms in spring and produces fruit in mid to late September. The fruit is green with orange flesh that has a creamy texture and a deliciously fruity hint of bananas.
Pawpaw does well in naturalized, riparian, or woodland areas. It is a flowering tree that attracts butterflies, pollinators, small mammals, and songbirds, which makes pawpaw a good addition to a butterfly, pollinator, or rain garden. It is an easy-to-grow fruit tree for children's gardens.
Quick ID Hints:
- Leaves produce a distinctive odor when crushed (similar to green bell peppers).
- Leaves large, alternate and distichous; they turn yellow in fall.
- Bark is smooth with wart-like lenticels
Insects, Diseases, 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. Trees can produce root suckers, which can be troublesome in the landscape.
VIDEO Created by Laura Barth for "Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits, and Nuts," a plant identification course developed 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
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Grafting
- Wildlife Value:
- Its flowers are pollinated by flies and beetles. Its fleshy fruits are eaten by songbirds, wild turkeys, squirrels, raccoons, opossums, black bears, and foxes. Pawpaws are larval host plants for the Zebra Swallowtail (Eurytides marcellus).
- Edibility:
- Edible fruits. Do not eat the peel or seeds.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- 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 Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Green
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is green with orange flesh that has a creamy texture and a deliciously fruity hint of bananas. Matures mid to late September.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Perfect (but self-incompatible). The burgundy flowers bloom in spring but are not showy. They are purplish brown with 6 petals and are 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter. They have a foul odor as they are pollinated by flies.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- 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:
- Alternate, simple, obovate to oblong 6-12 inches long 2-3 inches wide with a green pepper odor when crushed. The leaves are in two ranks and hang pendulously from the stem. The leaf underside is pale and glaucous.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Lenticels
- Bark Description:
- Smooth, brown splotched with wart-like lenticels. Becomes fissured and scaly with age.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Bud Scales:
- No scales, covered in hair
- Stem Form:
- Zig Zags
- Stem Lenticels:
- Conspicuous
- Stem Description:
- Buds are pubescent with no scales. Young buds and stems are cinnamon brown.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Riparian
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Children's Garden
- Edible Garden
- Rain Garden
- Design Feature:
- Flowering Tree
- Understory Tree
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Heat
- Humidity
- Problems:
- Contact Dermatitis
