Pawpaw (Asimina triloba)

Pawpaw is a colony-forming understory small tree of rich bottomlands. Leaves are large (up to a foot long) and malodorous if crushed. The unmistakable purplish-brown flowers appear in May on leafless branches. The fruit resembles a short, fat banana and is the largest edible fruit native to the U.S. The pawpaw does not self pollinate, so cross pollination is required. Prefers deep moist soils and partial shade.

NATIVE RANGE

Map courtesy of the USDA-NRCS Plant Database.