Pawpaw (Asimina triloba)

Pawpaw is a small, native tree that grows fairly slowly, at least for the first few years. It produces a large and unusual fruit that tastes very tropical. We have found the flavor to be most similar to banana, but it varies quite a bit by cultivar and even specific site conditions. In the wild, pawpaws are an understory tree, but will produce a much better crop when grown in an open setting. However, first and second year plants should be given partial shade while getting established, as they are very sensitive to sunlight. Pawpaws need well drained soil to thrive. They will get along in heavier soil, but won’t tolerate waterlogged sites. If you have heavy soil (like we do) consider planting pawpaws on mounds to aid in drainage. Choose a site that is protected from strong winds as pawpaws have large leaves that catch a lot of wind, which can be problematic in windy locations. Pawpaws are not self fertile and require a genetically different pollination partner. We recommend planting at least two seedlings to ensure good pollination. We offer bare root seedlings grown from cultivar parents approximately 10” tall. Hardy to zone 5.