Pawpaw
Asimina triloba
Courtesy Stefan Bloodworth, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Summary
A North American native, Pawpaw (Asiminia triloba) could once be found growing all over the eastern half of the US, especially favoring the rich alluvial soils of river valleys from the Missouri to the Potomac. It’s a small tree, rarely exceeding 20 feet, and in the wild it forms dense colonies (the “pawpaw patch” of the old folk song). The burgundy flowers, with their rather unpleasant odor, are not the first choice of butterflies or bees; instead, they’re mainly pollinated by flies, gnats and beetles. Pawpaw trees were planted at the SBG for use as host plants for the zebra swallowtail. Pawpaw is a wonderful smaller native tree that is a fine addition to any landscape.
More Details
FAMILY
Annonaceae (Custard-Apple)
BLOOM TIME
April-May
FLOWER
Chocolate red to purple
MATURE SIZE
20 feet
LIGHT REQUIREMENT
Sun to shade
SOIL CONDITIONS
Moist, well drained
NATIVE STATUS
PA Native
Ecosystem Connections
Pawpaw leaves are the sole food source for the larvae of the zebra swallowtail (Protographium marcellus), and adults are often seen nectaring near the trees. Females choose fresh young leaves upon which to lay their eggs. The developing larvae feed on these leaves but may drop off the tree if disturbed by an enemy; older caterpillars may even hide in the leaf litter at the base of the tree. They’ll pupate on the pawpaw leaves, well-camouflaged as a dead leaf. Pawpaw produces edible fruits that resemble small, lumpy bananas that are enjoyed by humans and wildlife alike. Also known as Hoosier bananas or custard apples, pawpaw fruits have a creamy texture and a tropical flavor. (If you’d like to try your hand at growing some, be sure to plant more than one tree, as cross-pollination is necessary to produce fruit.) In recent years, chemicals extracted from the twigs and seeds of pawpaw have been found to have promising anti-cancer and pesticidal properties.