Paw Paw

Asimina triloba

Size: 3, & 7 Gallon Availability

Tree
Max size: 20’ tall x 10’ wide
Average size: 15′ tall x 10′ wide

Very Moist, Usually Moist, Moist to Dry
Loam, Sand
Sun, Part Shade

AKA: Custard-Apple, Fetid-bush, Pawpaw, Papaw

Paw paws are small specimen tree whose flowers get pollinated by flies due to the smell the flowers give off. The flowers are red and bloom in spring, while the fall color is yellow. They produce the largest indigenous fruit to the U.S. and ripen in late summer. The fruits are custardy with a mild tropical taste. It is recommended to plant 2-3 Paw Paws (any variety) for better fruit production. If planting cultivated Paw Paws, plant a minimum of two different cultivars. If the tree needs pruned, do so in late winter. It is the larval host for Zebra swallowtails (Eurytides Marcellus), who have adapted to use the poisonous chemicals in Asimina to repel predators. Many other species of wildlife eat the fruits and include: birds, gray foxes, opossums, raccoons, mice, gopher tortoises, squirrels, deer, bear, and more.

Some tribes use the fruit to make spirits. The fibers from the bark can be used to string fish, make cordage, create bags, and other fiber arts. Thanks to the Iroquois, we know the fruit can be mashed into small cakes and dried for future use. The cakes can be soaked in warm water and cooked as a sauce or mixed into (corn) bread.