Paw Paw

Growing Conditions

Growing Zones

Thrives in USDA Zones 5 - 9

Companion Planting

When to Plant

• Transplant

  Plant bare-root or containerized trees in early spring while dormant, or in fall after leaf drop; minimize root disturbance

• Direct Sow

  Sow cold-stratified seeds in fall directly in the ground or in spring after 90–120 days of cold-moist stratification

• Harvest

  Harvest when fruit yields slightly to gentle pressure and the skin turns yellow-green to golden; fruit separates easily from the branch and has a fragrant tropical scent; typically September–October depending on zone

Organic Growing Tips

• Top-dress with finished compost each spring to feed the shallow feeder roots and sustain the rich soil biology paw paw prefers

• Apply 4–6 inches of wood chip mulch around the drip line, keeping mulch away from the trunk, to retain moisture and slowly build organic matter as it breaks down

• Use worm casting tea as a root drench during establishment years to encourage mycorrhizal colonization of the taproot system

• Avoid disturbing the soil around established paw paw roots; they form beneficial fungal networks that support the understory guild

• Plant native understory companions like spicebush and wild ginger beneath the canopy to build a self-sustaining woodland-edge system that reduces fertility and watering needs

• Attract and augment the paw paw's natural blowfly and beetle pollinators by hanging mesh bags of overripe fruit near trees during bloom, or hand-pollinate with a small brush between two genetically distinct trees

Common Pests

• paw paw peduncle borer
• zebra swallowtail caterpillar
• squirrels
• opossums
• raccoons

Taxonomy

Kingdom

Plantae

Family

Custard Apple Family (Annonaceae)

Genus

Asimina

Species

triloba

Natural History

Asimina triloba is the northernmost member of the tropical Annonaceae family and the only temperate species in a genus of mostly subtropical shrubs native to the eastern United States. Indigenous peoples including the Cherokee, Iroquois, and Potawatomi harvested paw paws as a significant late-summer food, and Hernando de Soto's 1541 expedition recorded Native communities cultivating the fruit along the Mississippi. Lewis and Clark relied on paw paw during food-scarce stretches of their 1804–1806 expedition. Despite this deep cultural record, the fruit was nearly absent from commercial agriculture by the 20th century due to its short shelf life - key grower consideration for harvest planning and fresh-use timing.

Traditional Use

Indigenous peoples of the eastern woodlands documented historical uses of paw paw bark, seeds, and leaves, primarily recorded by ethnobotanists in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The seeds attracted scientific interest in the 20th century when researchers identified annonaceous acetogenins - otent bioactive compounds that became subjects of laboratory study. Historical records focus on the Cherokee and other eastern nations who noted properties of the bark and seeds in non-food contexts.

• Cherokee traditional use, documented in Moerman's Native American Ethnobotany - bark

  Cherokee peoples were documented using inner bark preparations in contexts recorded in 19th-century ethnobotanical surveys, with bark strips also employed practically as cordage for binding and weaving.

• Purdue University annonaceous acetogenin research, 1980s–1990s - seeds

  Researchers at Purdue documented that paw paw seeds contain high concentrations of annonaceous acetogenins, compounds that generated significant scientific literature interest; this research built on earlier observations by Indigenous communities that seeds were not eaten.

Paw paw seeds and bark contain annonaceous acetogenins that are toxic if eaten; seeds should never be consumed. Some individuals experience contact dermatitis from the leaves and unripe fruit skin. The ripe fruit pulp is edible and widely consumed, but people with sensitivity to related tropical fruits (such as cherimoya) may experience reactions.

This information is provided for historical and educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making decisions related to your health.

Morphology (Plant Structure & Identification)

• Root System

  Paw paw develops a deep, fleshy taproot with sparse lateral roots, making transplanting of established trees nearly impossible and requiring careful siting at planting; it also spreads by root suckers to form multi-stem clonal colonies, which aids pollination when multiple genotypes are present.

• Stem

  Young trees have smooth gray-brown bark and a distinctive slightly drooping branch structure; the wood is soft and pithy, so trees rarely exceed 25 feet, and root suckering means the 'trunk' of a mature grove is often a ring of clonal stems from a single genetic plant.

• Leaves

  Large, oblong-obovate leaves (8–12 inches) with a strong unpleasant odor when crushed, which deters most browsing herbivores; leaves emerge late in spring and turn a clear butter-yellow in fall, serving as a reliable seasonal harvest-timing signal as they begin to droop when fruit is ripening.

• Flowers

  Dark maroon, nodding, slightly fetid blossoms appear in early spring before leaf-out and are pollinated primarily by blowflies and carrion beetles rather than bees; because a single clone cannot pollinate itself, planting two or more genetically distinct trees within 50 feet is essential for fruit set.

• Fruit

  The fruit is a large, oblong berry with smooth green-yellow skin and rich, custardy pale-yellow flesh surrounding several large brown seeds; ripe fruit softens noticeably, develops a sweet tropical scent, and must be harvested promptly as it deteriorates within 3–5 days at room temperature but holds 3 weeks refrigerated.

Known Varieties

Common cultivars worth knowing

• Shenandoah

  A leading USDA-bred cultivar prized for large fruit with mild, sweet flavor and relatively few seeds; one of the most widely planted named paw paw cultivars in home orchards.

  Best for: Home orchards and fresh eating

• Susquehanna

  Produces very large fruit with exceptionally rich, complex flavor and low fiber content; considered by many tasters to be among the highest-quality paw paw cultivars available.

  Best for: Fresh eating and flavor-focused gardens

• Mango

  An older, widely available cultivar with consistent yields and good flavor; more tolerant of variable growing conditions than some newer selections and useful as a pollinator partner.

  Best for: Reliable cropping and pollinator pairing

• PA Golden

  A seedling selection from Pennsylvania noted for cold-hardiness and golden-yellow flesh; well-suited to the northern edge of the paw paw's range in zones 5–6.

  Best for: Cold-climate zones 5–6