Common Pawpaw
Asimina triloba
Also listed as Orchidocarpum arietinum, Annona pendula
Also known as Pawpaw, American Paw Paw, Indiana Banana
Climate Match for your location
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A native understory tree producing fragrant maroon flowers in spring followed by large, tropical-looking green fruits with custard-like flesh. It thrives in partial shade and prefers consistent moisture.
Why grow it
Pawpaw produces larger fruit than most native North American understory trees and requires no pesticides in most growing regions, making it a lower-maintenance alternative to tropical fruit crops in temperate zones. Unlike grafted specialty fruits, seedling pawpaws establish readily and tolerate poor soils once established. Its suckering habit and moderate size suit it to small-scale permaculture systems where it can function as both a productive canopy layer and wildlife resource.
Watch out for
Fruit ripens over a narrow window and drops quickly, requiring frequent harvesting to avoid complete loss to wildlife or ground spoilage. Seedling trees can take 5-8 years to produce reliably, and flowering may be inconsistent in cooler regions or when chill hours are insufficient. Transplanting bare-root saplings often results in significant die-back, so container stock or in-situ establishment from seed is generally more successful.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Annonaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern United States
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Sub-canopy
Smaller trees living beneath the canopy.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
A native understory tree producing fragrant maroon flowers in spring followed by large, tropical-looking green fruits with custard-like flesh. It thrives in partial shade and prefers consistent moisture.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Common Pawpaw grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Pawpaw produces larger fruit than most native North American understory trees and requires no pesticides in most growing regions, making it a lower-maintenance alternative to tropical fruit crops in temperate zones. Unlike grafted specialty fruits, seedling pawpaws establish readily and tolerate poor soils once established. Its suckering habit and moderate size suit it to small-scale permaculture systems where it can function as both a productive canopy layer and wildlife resource.
Watch out for
Fruit ripens over a narrow window and drops quickly, requiring frequent harvesting to avoid complete loss to wildlife or ground spoilage. Seedling trees can take 5-8 years to produce reliably, and flowering may be inconsistent in cooler regions or when chill hours are insufficient. Transplanting bare-root saplings often results in significant die-back, so container stock or in-situ establishment from seed is generally more successful.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Annonaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern United States
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Sub-canopy
Smaller trees living beneath the canopy.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
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