Pawpaw (Asimina triloba)

Categories: Edible Plants | Floodplain Site | Moist Site | Shaded Site | Understory Tree | Wildlife

Pawpaw is a unique native understory tree known for producing the largest edible fruit native to the United States. Naturally found in rich bottomlands, woodland edges, and stream corridors, this small tree develops a dense, rounded canopy and often spreads by suckers to form attractive colonies.

Growing 15–20 feet tall and wide, Pawpaw features large, tropical-looking leaves that create a lush, bold texture in the landscape. In spring, before the canopy fully leafs out, distinctive maroon to purplish-brown flowers appear along the branches. These unusual blooms are followed by clusters of fruit that ripen in late summer to early fall.

The fruit resembles a short, thick banana and has a creamy texture with a flavor often described as a blend of banana, mango, and custard. Pawpaw fruit can be eaten fresh or used in baked goods, smoothies, ice cream, and other desserts.

Pawpaw is an important native wildlife plant and serves as the exclusive larval host plant for the Zebra Swallowtail butterfly, making it a valuable addition to pollinator and habitat-focused landscapes. Because Pawpaw does not reliably self-pollinate, planting two genetically different trees is recommended for the best fruit production.

NATIVE RANGE

Map courtesy of the USDA-NRCS Plant Database.