The largest edible fruit native to North America — sometimes called "Indiana banana" for its tropical-mango taste. Pawpaw groves are clonal, so you need genetically distinct trees for fruit set.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
Asimina triloba, the American papaw, pawpaw, paw paw, or paw-paw, among many regional names, is a species of small deciduous tree. It has large leaves and produces a large, yellowish-green to brown fruit.
Source: Wikipedia — Asimina triloba Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Small understory tree with large drooping leaves; purple-brown flowers; custard-like fruit.
Similar species. Other Asimina species (smaller, southern).
Voice. N/A
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. N/A — photosynthesis
Behavior. Sole host plant for Zebra Swallowtail butterfly. North America's only native tropical fruit family member.
§ Range
Eastern US from southern Ontario to Florida and west to Nebraska
§ Habitat
Forest understory, river bottoms, shaded slopes
§ Threats
Loss of forest understory in deer-overbrowsed forests, conversion to lawn, fire suppression.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the common pawpaw is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Plant pawpaw trees (need 2+ for fruit). Support deer population management. Maintain forest understory.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Asimina triloba
- www.nwf.org — authoritative profile of Asimina triloba
- iNaturalist · taxon 52805
- IUCN Red List — search for Asimina triloba
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Asimina triloba
§ Sources cited
- USDA Plants Database
- Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
- iNaturalist
