Common Pawpaw

Asimina triloba 

Plant Characteristics:

• Duration: perennial 
• Habit: tree
• Root type: Tap 
• Leaf retention: deciduous   
• Breeding system: flower bisexual 
• Fruit type: Berry 
• Size class: up to 40 feet
• Native Habitat: ditches, ravines, depressions, floodplains, bottomlands 
• Bloom time: April-May

Growing Conditions 

• Light:
  • Sun, partial shade, shade
• Soil:
  • Moisture: Moist
  • CaCO3 Tol: Medium 
  • Description: Rich, moist, slightly acidic soils. Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Clay Loam, Clay
• Water Use:
  • Medium
• Condition comments:
  • This is a good understory tree. No serious disease or insect problems. 

Benefits:

• Ornamental understory tree
  • Aromatic 
• Wildlife use: small mammals like the fruit, 
• Edible for human consumption: Fruit tastes like Bananas 
  • But can cause gastrointestinal distress 
• Conspicuous flower 
• Deer resistant 
• Attracts bees and butterflies

Drawbacks: 

• Leaves are poisonous and some people have reported skin irritation when handling the fruit 
• Fruit can leave a mess on sidewalks and patios but rarely seeds much fruit if one tree is planted (i.e cross pollination is required)