Plant native Pawpaw trees to grow fall snacks for family & wildlife. Enjoy the bright yellow foliage and tropical banana/mango flavor notes that these custardy fruits can provide.
Pawpaws are North America's largest Native tree fruit as well as North America's most tropical fruit. The large leaves, smooth bark, and bright green fruits make Pawpaw trees interesting and attractive specimens that make you feel as if you are in a jungle close to the equator and not in Eastern North America. Pawpaws trees not only look tropical they also have their own unique tropical taste that contain both banana and mango-like flavor notes. We most enjoy keeping them in the fridge throughout the fall and eating them for breakfast. It's like waking up to tropical breakfast smoothie that you didn't have to blend. While Pawpaws will produce more fruit in full sun they are unique in that will be produce decent amounts of fruit in the shade and are great options for planting in the understory of large nut trees.
While easy to grow, Pawpaws are often misunderstood and are not a fruit that you are likely to run into at the grocery store. The Pawpaw flavor is certainly a flavor that would be coveted by many. Once picked, the Pawpaw shelf-life only lasts a few days. Pawpaws should not be picked until they are slightly mushy which is not a quality that supermarket fruit connoisseurs are used to. The only ways to really harvest and experience Pawpaws are out on the nature trail or on the trees that you conveniently planted in your own backyard. Native to the eastern and central United States, Pawpaw trees are a good-looking versatile low maintenance species that are perhaps even more appealing to deer, turkey, other wildlife, and livestock than they are to us.
Our bare root Pawpaw seedlings are grown outside in loose native soil that is amended with our own compost and mulched with grass, leaves, and locally sourced wood chips. We focus on developing strong robust root systems for easier transplanting and avoid growing in pots to prevent circling roots. We do not spray our Pawpaw trees with herbicides, pesticides or chemical fertilizers. We collect our Pawpaw seeds from great-tasting wild trees on our nursery site. One of our favorite fall family past-times is heading into our Pawpaw patch, shaking the trees, avoiding the flying fruits, and quickly collecting as many as we can as they hit the forest floor.
Pawpaws are North America's largest native fruit.
Other Common Names: Hoosier banana, Indiana banana, custard apple, Quaker delight
Name Derivation: Derived from European explorers who confused the fruits with Papayas
Native Range: Eastern United States
Years to Bear Fruit: 4 years to 10 years
USDA Zone Range: 4 - 9
Pollination: Cross Pollination
Bloom Color: Dark red to purple
Fruit Color: Green
Fruit Size: Large
Foliage Color: yellow
Bark: Smooth, grey
Edible Parts: Fruit (skin & seeds are not edible)
Taste: Sweet banana-mango smoothie with custard texture
Texture: Custard-like
Culinary Uses: Pawpaw fruit can be eaten raw or used in pudding, ice-cream, yogurt or baked goods.
Folklore: Pawpaws represent community and family togetherness for those that join to together to shake the trees in early fall
Does Not Ship to: California & Hawaii
Pawpaws grow well in deep rich well-drained soils. Pawpaws must be grown in shade for the first two years but can then thrive with increased fruit production when grown in full sun. This is a species that can thrive when planted next to or underneath Black Walnut trees.
Seedling Size: 1 feet to 3 feet
Spacing: 8 feet to 15 feet
Plant Qty: We recommend planting 3 or more seedlings to ensure cross pollination to bear fruit
Deer browse resistant: Yes
Sun Exposure: Partial, 4 hours direct sunlight per day
Soil Composition: well-drained, loamy texture
Soil Moisture: Well Drained
Soil pH Level: 4.5 to 7
Mature Height: 12 feet to 25 feet
Life Span: 40 years
Ripens/Harvest: Late August through early October
Yield: Up to 25 to 50 pounds per tree at maturity in full sun
Pawpaw fruit is contains high amounts of vitamin C, magnesium, iron, copper, and manganese. Pawpaws are also sources of potassium, essential amino acids, riboflavin, niacin, calcium, phosphorus, and zinc.
Vitamins C: Supports tissue health and boosts the immune system
Potassium: Lowers blood pressure and can help reduce the risk of stroke
Magnesium: Can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular issues
Manganese: Essential for blood clotting
Medicinal Uses: Pawpaws are known to contain the chemical compounds known as acetogenins which may help treat certain cancers
