pawpaw
Asimina triloba
MBG Plant of Merit 2011
USDA zones5 to 9
SunHandles full sun to full shade
WaterHandles moderate to wet soil
Size15 to 30 feet tall15 to 30 feet wide
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Bloom season
- Spring, autumn
- Bloom color
- White , red , yellow , purple
- Foliage color
- Green
- Soil types
- Sand, loam, clay
- Soil pH
- Acid, neutral
Garden uses
Attracts
Notes
Pawpaw (Asimina triloba) is a tree for woodland gardens, shade gardens, food gardens, and rain gardens. It is hardy to USDA zone 5, or down to -20°F (-29°C). This plant likes full sun to full shade and average to wet, sandy, loamy, or clay soil. Purple flowers open in spring before the leaves appear, and small mammals relish the fragrant fruit. Plant only one tree if you want to limit fruit mess, because pawpaws seldom set much fruit without cross pollination. It sits low on the menu for deer.
Pairs well with Wild ginger, Serviceberry, Virginia sweetspire, and Sedge.
Native range
AL, AR, CT, DC, and 26 more places. See all 30
AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MO, MS, NC, NE, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WI, and WV; ON.