Asimina triloba
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ah-SIH-min-ah trih-LO-bah
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Pawpaw is a deciduous, native, understory tree in the Annonaceae family. Its name is probably a modification of the Spanish papaya. It is native to Canada and the eastern U.S.A. where it grows in deep shade to full sunlight in moist, nutrient-rich forests. It will tolerate occasional wet or moist conditions but prefers good drainage and acidic soil.
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. In late summer to early fall, pawpaw produces an edible, sweet-tasting, and custard-like fruit measuring 2.5 to 6 inches. Harvesting the fruit can be difficult with competition from ambitious wildlife. It is recommended to wear gloves when harvesting as contact dermatitis has been known to occur. The leaves turn a yellow color in the fall and provide interest.
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. Pawpaw is an important food source for Zebra swallowtail (Eurytides marcellus) larvae. Flies and beetles are beneficial pollinators attracted to the fetid odor of flowers. It is an easy-to-grow fruit tree for children's gardens.
Fire Risk: This plant has a low flammability rating.
Quick ID Hints:
- Leaves produce an odor when crushed.
- Leaves turn yellow in fall.
- Bark is smooth with wart-like lenticels
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits, and Nuts" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Mountain Ridge Top Garden - North Woods
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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'Allegheny'
- 'Davis'
Selected from a wild grove in Michigan. Mottled green skin & yellow flesh. Keeps well in cold storage. - 'Mango'
Selected from the wild in GA in 1970. Vigorous growth. Round fruits resemble mangoes.
'NC-1'
Large fruit
Early ripening 'Overleese'
Big yellow-orange fruit with dark yellow flesh and few seeds 'Potomac'
One of the largest fruits 'Shenandoah'
One of the largest fruits 'Sunflower'
Latest ripening variety 'Susquehanna'
Large and late ripening 'Wabash'
Good productivity with large-sized fruit - 'Davis'
- 'Allegheny', 'Davis', 'Mango', 'NC-1', 'Overleese', 'Potomac', 'Shenandoah', 'Sunflower', 'Susquehanna', 'Wabash'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
-
'Allegheny'
- 'Davis'
Selected from a wild grove in Michigan. Mottled green skin & yellow flesh. Keeps well in cold storage. - 'Mango'
Selected from the wild in GA in 1970. Vigorous growth. Round fruits resemble mangoes.
'NC-1'
Large fruit
Early ripening 'Overleese'
Big yellow-orange fruit with dark yellow flesh and few seeds 'Potomac'
One of the largest fruits 'Shenandoah'
One of the largest fruits 'Sunflower'
Latest ripening variety 'Susquehanna'
Large and late ripening 'Wabash'
Good productivity with large-sized fruit - 'Davis'
- 'Allegheny', 'Davis', 'Mango', 'NC-1', 'Overleese', 'Potomac', 'Shenandoah', 'Sunflower', 'Susquehanna', 'Wabash'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Asimina
- Species:
- triloba
- Family:
- Annonaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Canada and U.S.A., NC
- Distribution:
- WA south to NM, NE, IA. Parts of WI, MI east to ME, south to FL
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- 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). The adult butterflies lay eggs in the north during two flights between April and August and in the south between March and December. Since adult Zebra Swallowtail butterflies also feed on flower nectar from milkweed, blueberries, blackberries, lilacs, redbuds, verbenas, and dogbane, consider adding these near pawpaws.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Resistant to fire and moderately resistant to damage from deer.
- Edibility:
- Mature fruits have a banana custard flavor. Raw fruits can be eaten in small quantities but can cause stomach/skin irritation in some people.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Poisonous
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Pyramidal
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- 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
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- 6-feet-12 feet
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- Edible fleshy fruit becomes soft and custard-like sweet taste similar to bananas, very nutritious. Glaucous surface. Displays from August to October. This plant needs a pollinizer plant to set fruit.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Petals:
- 6 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
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- 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:
- 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 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
- Children's Garden
- Edible Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Design Feature:
- Flowering Tree
- Shade Tree
- Small Tree
- Understory Tree
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
- Deer
- Fire
- Heavy Shade
- Problems:
- Contact Dermatitis
- Malodorous
- Poisonous to Humans