Pawpaw Varieties

Common Pawpaw

• Horticulturalists believe that the Common Pawpaw - Asimina triloba - has the most potential of all Pawpaw species. It is the most widespread, being native from Florida up to Michigan, extending out to Nebraska and Texas. Its lush, dark green, tropical-looking leaves make it an excellent addition to a garden. The healthful, creamy fruit is a promising food crop and the most palatable among Pawpaw varieties. It naturally grows with a bush-like form but is often trained to take on a tree-like, pyramidal form. Reaching 20 to 30 feet high, the widespread tree produces 2- to 4-inch fruits, which emerge from maroon-colored flowers.

Smaller Varieties

• Asimina pygmaea, also known as Smallflower or Dwarf Pawpaw, rarely grows taller than 4 or 5 feet and has smaller leaves and flowers than the Common Pawpaw. It grows as a dwarf shrub and has rounded leaves and maroon blossoms. This plant grows in the understory of forests and is often overlooked due to its inconspicuous growth. The Asimina longiflora species is small, growing into a shrub or small tree, and has long, thin leaves and white, pink or maroon flowers.

Fruit Sizes

• Pawpaws are known for producing large-sized fruit, but fruit size varies among species and cultivars. The Overleese cultivar produces extremely large fruit weighing 350 grams. Sunflower cultivars produce fruit around 250 grams, much larger than most varieties. The cultivars LA Native, Middletown, Rappahannock and Wilson produce smaller fruit that is under 100 grams. The species Asimina parviflora grows around 4 feet and produces pawpaws that are just 2 inches long, while Asimina tetramera grows to about 6 feet tall and produces 9-inch fruits.

Cultivation

• For best results, start pawpaws from seeds in deep containers to allow tap root formation. Do not allow the seeds to dry out prior to planting. Seedlings should reach 2 or 3 feet before being transplanted into deep, well-draining soil. Pawpaw trees should be protected from UV rays early in life, but planted in full sun by their second year. Though they are understory plants and are tolerant of shade, they produce best under sunny conditions.