Save 15% on all preorders of Native Plants until January 31st! 30% Off Shipping!
Save 15% on all preorders of Native Plants until January 31st! 30% Off Shipping!
Phonetic: ah-SIH-mi-nah try-LO-bah
Bare Root 6-12"
Pawpaw is a small deciduous tree native to the eastern and midwestern United States. It thrives in rich, moist, well-drained soils and prefers full sun to partial shade. In its natural habitat, pawpaw often grows as an understory tree in floodplains, river valleys, and moist woodlands, though it produces more flowers and fruit when grown in sunnier locations. It tolerates periodic flooding and short dry spells but performs best in consistently moist, fertile soils with good drainage. Its broad, tropical-looking leaves give it a distinctive appearance uncommon among temperate forest trees.
In spring, Pawpaw produces maroon to brownish-purple, bell-shaped flowers that bloom before the tree fully leaves out. These flowers are primarily pollinated by flies and beetles rather than bees, as they emit a faint, yeasty odor that attracts such insects. Later in the season, pawpaw bears large, greenish-yellow fruits—the largest edible native fruit in North America—that ripen in late summer to early fall. The fruits are a valuable food source for wildlife, including raccoons, opossums, foxes, and numerous bird species. Pawpaw is also the exclusive host plant for the larvae of the zebra swallowtail butterfly, whose caterpillars feed only on its leaves, making it an essential species for maintaining populations of this striking butterfly.
In gardens and landscapes, pawpaw is valued for its ornamental foliage, unique flowers, and delicious custard-like fruit. It is well-suited for native plant gardens, edible landscapes, and riparian buffers, where it provides both aesthetic and ecological benefits. The tree forms small colonies through root suckers, which can create natural screens or thickets beneficial to wildlife. Ecologically, Asimina triloba contributes to biodiversity by supporting specialized pollinators, serving as a vital host plant, and offering fruit for mammals and birds.
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