Paw Paw (Berries, minor fruits and fruit trees)

Zone 5b

Light: Full Sun, Part Sun
Height: 10-15'
Width: 5-8'
Flower Colour: Red

Asimina triloba  'Mango' is one of the most vigorous of all paw paws quickly becoming a small tree with large, tasty fruit with orange-yellow fruit. Paw paw is an intriguing eastern North American (including southern Ontario) understorey tree with large, beautiful, subtropical foliage, red flowers and sweet, custardy fruits with a unique flavour like banana, mango and cantaloupe! All plants will produce fruit but you need two different seedlings or cultivars for cross pollination.

Maria’s Joy Pawpaw. Ideal for container grown

Bred by Jerry Lehman of Terre Haute, Indiana, Maria’s Joy Pawpaw produces medium to large sized fruit that are kidney-shaped with yellow flesh. A Davis X Prolific cross Maria’s Joy produces good crops annually with fruit averaging between 8 to 14 ounces. A well-known fruit author remarked it was the best tasting pawpaw he ever tasted. It also won the Ohio Pawpaw Festival’s “Biggest Pawpaw Contest” in 2012. 

Pawpaws are generally remarkably disease and insect resistant. Site requirements: Full sun location for best fruit production. Pawpaws will grow in shade but produce much less fruit. Pawpaws tolerate a range of soil types provided the planting location is well drained and there is heavy mulch and plenty of fertilizer and water. Protected locations, such as on the South, East or West side of a building is ideal on very windy sites are recommended.

​Size at maturity: 15-20′ tall and wide... grown in pot are smaller, depending on location, care and pruning to reduce height. We recommend heading them at about 10″ and removing suckers, both of which keep the trees very manageable and small.

​Pawpaws (Asimina Triloba) are related to custard apples and cherimoya, in the sugar apple family, and yet they grow in the temperate zone, having moved north as Ice Age glaciers receded. Flavours of mango, melon, banana, raspberry and pineapple come from this creamy fruit. Like many fruits, if you don’t know what you’re doing and you let them get bruised, or you pick them under-ripe they won't taste very good!

​Flowers: Dormant, velvety, dark brown flower buds develop in the axils of the previous years' leaves. They produce maroon, upside-down flowers up to 2 inches across. The normal bloom period consists of about 6 weeks during March to May depending on variety, latitude and climatic conditions. The blossom consists of 2 whorls of 3 petals each, and the calyx has 3 sepals. Each flower contains several ovaries which explains why a single flower can produce multiple fruits. 

History of paw paw

https://www.hillbillypawpaws.com/history-and-nutritional-values-of-p

Extra sweet fruit. This tree yields abundant crops of 25-50 pounds when mature, perfect for baking, canning or cooking. Cold-hardy. Best to plant in neutral soil, partial to full sun. Ripens in late September. Grafted. For proper pollination, plant another grafted pawpaw variety. A popular pawpaw for growing in the pawpaw’s most northern range. Early ripening and very good quality. Fruits can get very large, up to 1 pound (average around 6-12 ounces). The deep yellow, almost orange flesh is juicy and soft and has a refreshing, very pleasant tangy tropical fruity flavor. Trees are productive and cold-hardy. A popular cultivar in places like Ontario, New York, and Pennsylvania.

NC-1 paw paw was introduced by Doug Campbell, a nurseryman and fruit enthusiast from Niagra on the Lake, Ontario, Canada in 1976. Proven winter hardy and productive in that area. One of the earliest to ripen its fruit with few seeds and large fruit and thin skin. Ripens September 15th in Ontario and early September in Kentucky. Space 10' circles Zone 5-8

Grafted tree. Will produce quickly. Ideal for pot culture under zone 6a

Selected at Kentucky State University for its heavily productive early ripening round tasty fruit. It has a delicious flavor with hints of mango and pineapple. It is widely adaptable and is an excellent choice for areas that have cooler summers and need an early ripening cultivars. For proper pollination, plant another pawpaw variety.

Pawpaws are generally remarkably disease and insect resistant. Site requirements: Full sun location for best fruit production. Pawpaws will grow in shade but produce much less fruit. Pawpaws tolerate a range of soil types provided the planting location is well drained and there is heavy mulch and plenty of fertilizer and water. Protected locations, such as on the South, East or West side of a building is ideal on very windy sites are recommended.

​Size at maturity: 15-20′ tall and wide... grown in pot are smaller, depending on location, care and pruning to reduce height. We recommend heading them at about 10″ and removing suckers, both of which keep the trees very manageable and small.

​Pawpaws (Asimina Triloba) are related to custard apples and cherimoya, in the sugar apple family, and yet they grow in the temperate zone, having moved north as Ice Age glaciers receded. Flavours of mango, melon, banana, raspberry and pineapple come from this creamy fruit. Like many fruits, if you don’t know what you’re doing and you let them get bruised, or you pick them under-ripe they won't taste very good!

​Flowers: Dormant, velvety, dark brown flower buds develop in the axils of the previous years' leaves. They produce maroon, upside-down flowers up to 2 inches across. The normal bloom period consists of about 6 weeks during March to May depending on variety, latitude and climatic conditions. The blossom consists of 2 whorls of 3 petals each, and the calyx has 3 sepals. Each flower contains several ovaries which explains why a single flower can produce multiple fruits. 

Grafted tree. Will produce quickly. Ideal for pot culture under zone 6a

KSU Chappell TM is an impressive new cultivar developed by Kentucky State University. Outstanding flavor, texture, and beautiful, large fruits.  Very fast growing.  A must-have pawpaw cultivar! Formerly called KSU 4-1. Flesh is thick and custardy with an exceptional, exotic fruity aroma, honeyed sweetness and fruity flavor. It is likely a seedling of Susquehanna TM, which it resembles strongly, another very excellent pawpaw. Fruits average around 8-12 ounces with some larger, around 1 pound. Trees are very vigorous, strong and extremely fast growing with large, healthy foliage. It might be the fastest growing pawpaw cultivar available.

Zone 5b..but pot culture possible in zone 4

One of our most popular and reliable varieties, Sunflower Pawpaw bears good crops of very large, sweet and delicious fruit. Sunflower won First Prize at the 2010 Ohio Pawpaw Festival.

Pawpaws (Asimina triloba) are one of the most unique and delicious fruits that can be grown in the backyard orchard. Native to eastern North America, pawpaws are the only member of the Annonaceae, or custard apple family, that is adapted to temperate climates. Its tropical relatives include the cherimoya, atemoya, guanabana, and soursop, and it is easy to see the resemblance between the pawpaw fruit and that of its tropical cousins. Pawpaw fruit combines delectable, fruity, banana-like flavor with creamy, custard-like flesh. Nutritious as well as delicious, the greenish yellow, 3″-6″ long fruit is unusually high in protein and is a good source of vitamins and minerals. Everything about this plant, from its leaf size and shape to the way its fruits look, taste and smell is tropical, yet it is cold hardy to zone 5 and can be grown in temperate climates from coast to coast. A slow growing, small tree, Pawpaw is naturally disease and pest resistant and features long, tropical-looking foliage that turns a striking bright yellow in the fall. The largest native American fruit, Pawpaw was a significant part of the Native American diet, and with our superior large-fruited varieties, is enjoying new popularity.

Asimina triloba 'Pennsylvania Golden' Zone 5

The earliest of all our varieties to ripen, with reliable harvests of medium-sized fruit. A great variety to try in cooler regions, or use this as an early-ripener in long summer areas to extend your harvest of these sweet treasures!

Paw paw trees grown in cooler locations will be on the shorter end of the height estimate; you can expect your tree to reach 10' in cool summer regions. Hand pollination will increase fruit set, alternatively, adding a small pile of decaying meat to the base of each tree just before blooms open will bring in the flies and beetles that pollinate these unusual trees. Shade from direct sun during first 2 summers - even mature trees may benefit from afternoon shade in hot climates. Also protect young trees from slug and snail damage.

Pollination: Other freestone pawpaw or any other grafted or seedling pawpaw tree will pollinate. For good pollination, plant trees 8-15 ft away from each other only. Pawpaws are not male and female, but rather have “male and female” flower parts on each flower. Every tree is capable of bearing fruit if pollinated well with pollen from another genetically different pawpaw tree. Hand pollination results in heaviest fruit set.

​Pawpaws are generally remarkably disease and insect resistant. Site requirements: Full sun location for best fruit production. Pawpaws will grow in shade but produce much less fruit. Pawpaws tolerate a range of soil types provided the planting location is well drained and there is heavy mulch and plenty of fertilizer and water. Protected locations, such as on the South, East or West side of a building is ideal on very windy sites are recommended.

​Size at maturity: 15-20′ tall and wide... grown in pot are smaller, depending on location, care and pruning to reduce height. We recommend heading them at about 10″ and removing suckers, both of which keep the trees very manageable and small.

​Pawpaws (Asimina Triloba) are related to custard apples and cherimoya, in the sugar apple family, and yet they grow in the temperate zone, having moved north as Ice Age glaciers receded. Flavours of mango, melon, banana, raspberry and pineapple come from this creamy fruit. Like many fruits, if you don’t know what you’re doing and you let them get bruised, or you pick them under-ripe they won't taste very good!

​Flowers: Dormant, velvety, dark brown flower buds develop in the axils of the previous years' leaves. They produce maroon, upside-down flowers up to 2 inches across. The normal bloom period consists of about 6 weeks during March to May depending on variety, latitude and climatic conditions. The blossom consists of 2 whorls of 3 petals each, and the calyx has 3 sepals. Each flower contains several ovaries which explains why a single flower can produce multiple fruits. 

Seedling from seeds source from selected cultivars in Ontario

minimal zone 4b in a protected spot

Asimina triloba, the pawpaw or paw paw is a species of Asimina (the pawpaw genus) in the same plant family (the Annonaceae) as the custard-apple, cherimoya, sweetsop, ylang-ylang and soursop. The pawpaw is native to the Eastern, Southern, and Midwestern United States and adjacent southernmost Ontario, Canada, from New York west to southeastern Nebraska, and south to northern Florida and eastern Texas.The pawpaw is a patch-forming (clonal) understory tree found in well-drained, deep, fertile bottom-land and hilly upland habitat, with large, simple leaves and large fruits. The paw paw is the largest edible fruit indigenous to the United States. Suitable for zone minimum zone 4b but more recommended for 5b. Asimina triloba is a large shrub or small tree growing to a height of 35 feet (11 m) (rarely to 45 feet or 14 m) with a trunks 8-12 inches (20–30 cm) or more in diameter. The large leaves of pawpaw trees are clustered symmetrically at the ends of the branches, giving a distinctive imbricated appearance to the tree's foliage.

The leaves of the species are simple, alternate and spirally arranged, entire, deciduous, obovate-lanceolate, 10-12 inches (25–30 cm) long, 4-5 inches (10–13 cm) broad, and wedge-shaped at the base, with an acute apex and an entire margin, with the midrib and primary veins prominent. The petioles are short and stout, with a prominent adaxial groove. Stipules are lacking. The expanding leaves are conduplicate, green, covered with rusty tomentum beneath, and hairy above; when fully grown they are smooth, dark green above, and paler beneath. When bruised, the leaves have a disagreeable odor similar to a green bell pepper. In autumn the leaves are a rusty yellow, which make spotting pawpaw groves possible from a long distance.

Pawpaw flowers are perfect, about 1-2 inches (3–5 cm) across, rich red-purple or maroon when mature, with three sepals and six petals. They are borne singly on stout, hairy, axillary peduncles. The flowers are produced in early spring at the same time as or slightly before the new leaves appear, and have a faint fetid or yeasty smell. The fruit of the pawpaw is a large, yellowish-green to brown berry, 2–6 in (5–16 cm) long and 1–3 in (3–7 cm) broad, weighing from 0.7–18 oz (20–500 g), containing several brown/black seeds 1/2 to 1 in (15–25 mm) in diameter embedded in the soft, edible fruit pulp. The conspicuous fruits begin developing after the plants flower; they are initially green, maturing by September or October to yellow or brown. When mature, the heavy fruits bend the weak branches down. Bark: Light gray, sometimes blotched with lighter gray spots, sometimes covered with small excrescences, divided by shallow fissures. Inner bark tough, fibrous. The bark with a very disagreeable odor when bruised. Wood: Pale, greenish yellow, sapwood lighter; light, soft, coarse-grained and spongy. Sp. gr., 0.3969; weight of cu ft 24.74 lb. Asimina triloba, the pawpaw, commonly grows in floodplains and shady, rich bottomlands, where it often forms a dense, clonally spreading undergrowth in the forest, often appearing as a patch or thicket of individual small slender trees. Pawpaws are not the first to colonize a disturbed site (arriving roughly four years after a clearcut), but may become dominant and slow the establishment of oaks and hickories. Although shade-tolerant, pawpaws do not persist in undisturbed old growth forest. Pawpaws spread locally primarily by root suckers; sexual reproduction by seed does also occur, but at a fairly low rate.

Pawpaw flowers are insect-pollinated, but fruit production is sometimes limited as few if any pollinators are attracted to the flower's faint, or sometimes non-existent scent. The flowers produce an odor similar to that of rotting meat to attract blowflies or carrion beetles for cross pollination. Other insects that are attracted to pawpaw flowers include scavenging fruit flies, carrion flies and beetles. In Canada, where the species is found only in portions of southern Ontario, it has a NatureServe national conservation rank of N3 (Vulnerable), and a NatureServe subnational conservation rank of S3 (Vulnerable) in Ontario. The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources has given the species a general status of "Sensitive", and its populations there are monitored.

A strong candidate for the natural distribution of the common pawpaw (Asimina triloba) in North America, prior to the Ice Ages and lasting until roughly 10,000 years ago, was likely the then extant but now extinct megafauna of North America. (Such animals went extinct during the Quaternary extinction event.) With the arrival of humans, and the extinction of such megafauna for distributing Asimina triloba, the likely candidate for distributing these large fruit bearing plants likely became the newly arrived humans. The earliest documented mention of pawpaws is in the 1541 report of the Spanish de Soto expedition, who found Native Americans cultivating it east of the Mississippi River.

Chilled pawpaw fruit was a favorite dessert of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson planted it at Monticello, his home in Virginia. The Lewis and Clark Expedition sometimes subsisted on pawpaws during their travels. Asimina triloba is often called wild banana or prairie banana because of its banana-like creamy texture and flavor. As described by horticulturist Barbara Damrosch, the fruit of the pawpaw "looks a bit like mango, but with pale yellow, custardy, spoonable flesh and black, easy-to-remove seeds. Wild-collected pawpaw fruits, ripe in late August to mid September, have long been a favorite treat throughout the tree's extensive native range in eastern North America, and on occasion are sold locally at farmers' markets.Pawpaw fruits have a sweet, custardish flavor somewhat similar to banana, mango, and cantaloupe, varying significantly by source or cultivar, with more protein than most fruits.Nineteenth-century American agronomist E. Lewis Sturtevant described pawpaws as

Fresh fruits of the pawpaw are commonly eaten raw, either chilled or at room temperature. However, they can be kept only 2–3 days at room temperature, or about a week if refrigerated. The easily bruised pawpaw fruits do not ship well unless frozen. Where pawpaws grow, the fruit pulp is also often used locally in baked dessert recipes, with pawpaw often substituted with volumetric equivalency in many banana-based recipes. Pawpaws may also be blended into ice cream or included in pancakes. Pawpaws are also used for juice-making,[citation needed] as either a fresh pawpaw drink[citation needed] or in drink mixtures (for example, a pawpaw, pineapple, banana, lime, lemon, and orange tea mix. The fruit pulp can also be made into a country wine.

Pawpaws have never been cultivated for their fruits on the scale of apples (Malus domestica) or peaches (Prunus persica), primarily because pawpaw fruits ripen to the point of fermentation soon after they are picked, and only frozen fruit will store or ship well. Other methods of preservation include dehydration, production of jams or jellies, and pressure canning (using the numerical values for bananas).

In recent years, cultivation of pawpaws for fruit production has attracted renewed interest, particularly among organic growers, as a native fruit with few to no pests, successfully grown without pesticides. The commercial cultivation and harvesting of pawpaws is strong in southeastern Ohio and also being explored in Kentucky and Maryland, as well as various areas outside the species' native range, including California, the Pacific Northwest and Massachusetts The pawpaw is also gaining in popularity among landscapers and backyard gardeners because of the tree's distinctive growth habit, the appeal of its fresh fruit, and its relatively low maintenance needs once established.