top of page

PawPaw

Asimina triloba

The Pawpaw (Asimina triloba)

The Pawpaw is a stunning deciduous tree with large, tropical-looking drooping leaves that turn a brilliant butter-yellow in the autumn. It is the only member of the Annonaceae family (the Custard Apple family) that can survive freezing winters, making it a truly unique addition to a temperate "patio orchard."


Setting the Stage for Success

Soil & Fertilizer

Pawpaws love rich, fertile soil that mimics a forest floor.

  • The Soil: Use a potting mix high in organic matter. Adding compost or leaf mold to your container will provide the fungal network these trees crave.

  • Feeding: Use a balanced organic fertilizer in early spring. They are not particularly heavy feeders, but they do appreciate a "mulch" of composted manure every spring to keep the soil biology active.

The "Shade Rule" for Young Trees

In the wild, young pawpaws grow in the understory of giant trees.

  • Protection: For the first two years, your potted pawpaw must be protected from intense, direct midday sun. Its leaves are sensitive to UV until it matures. Once the tree is about 3 feet tall, it will start to crave full sun to produce the best fruit.

Maintenance, Trimming & Troubleshooting

Pollination: The Pawpaw Puzzle

This is the most "eccentric" part of growing pawpaws.

  • The Flowers: They produce beautiful, meat-colored maroon flowers in spring.

  • The Pollinators: They are not pollinated by bees, but by flies and beetles!

  • The Strategy: To get fruit, you generally need two genetically different trees (not two of the same cultivar). If you only have one tree, you can try "hand-pollinating" with a small paintbrush, but having a partner tree is the gold standard.

Pest Prevention

  • Zebra Swallowtail: The Pawpaw is the only host plant for the stunning Zebra Swallowtail butterfly. While the caterpillars eat the leaves, they rarely do enough damage to hurt the tree. Most gardeners consider this a "bonus" feature!

  • Deer: Interestingly, deer usually avoid pawpaw leaves because they contain natural insecticidal compounds (acetogenins).

Flavor & Culinary Delight

The Pawpaw is the "custard" of the fruit world. The texture is soft and spoonable, similar to a very ripe avocado or a thick pudding.

  • Fresh: Cut the fruit in half and scoop out the pulp with a spoon, discarding the large, bean-like seeds.

  • Processing: The flavor is very volatile and disappears with high heat. Pawpaw is best used in "no-bake" recipes like ice cream, smoothies, or chilled mousses.

  • The Scent: A ripening pawpaw will fill your patio with a tropical, fruity aroma that is unmistakable.

Pro-Tip: The "Paintbrush" Trick

If your trees are blooming but you aren't seeing fruit, take a small artist's paintbrush and collect the yellow pollen from the flowers of one tree and "paint" it onto the green center of the flowers on your second tree. Since the flies can be unreliable, this 5-minute task is the best way to guarantee a heavy harvest!

bottom of page