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Other Names:  Common Pawpaw, Pawpaw Apple, False-Banana

Description:

** Florida Native ** Small spreading tree with delicious edible fruit, similar in taste to a banana/pear; fruit is sweet, rich, high in vitamins; cup-shaped purple flowers; tree is a larval host for the zebra swallowtail butterfly

Edible Qualities

Pawpaw is a small tree that is commonly grown for its edible qualities, although it does have ornamental merits as well. It produces large green oblong fruit with creamy white flesh which are usually ready for picking from mid to late summer. The fruits have a sweet taste with a mushy texture and a pleasant fragrance.

The fruit are most often used in the following ways:

• Fresh Eating
• Cooking
• Preserves
• Wine-Making

Features & Attributes

Pawpaw features unusual lightly-scented nodding purple flowers from mid to late spring. It has dark green deciduous foliage. The large oval leaves turn an outstanding lemon yellow in the fall. It features an abundance of magnificent green berries from mid to late summer. The fruit can be messy if allowed to drop on the lawn or walkways, and may require occasional clean-up.

This is a multi-stemmed deciduous tree with a distinctive and refined pyramidal form. Its strikingly bold and coarse texture can be very effective in a balanced landscape composition. This is a high maintenance plant that will require regular care and upkeep, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. It is a good choice for attracting birds, butterflies and squirrels to your yard. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Aside from its primary use as an edible, Pawpaw is sutiable for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Shade
• Naturalizing And Woodland Gardens
• Orchard/Edible Landscaping

Planting & Growing

Pawpaw will grow to be about 20 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 20 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 3 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 years or more.

This tree can be integrated into a landscape or flower garden by creative gardeners, but is usually grown in a designated edibles garden. It does best in full sun to partial shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It may require supplemental watering during periods of drought or extended heat. It is not particular as to soil type, but has a definite preference for acidic soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is native to parts of North America.

Lindley's Florida Native

Long lived perennial, somewhat challenging to establish due to long taproot. Native range in North west of Florida, similar species suitable for all of Florida would be Asimina parviflora.

 

* This is a "special order" plant - contact store for details