PlantsFruits & Berries
Common Pawpaw
Asimina triloba
Chicago-region native. Suited to zone 6a.
Native fruit tree and woodland understory
ModerateFruits & BerriesAlso TreesAlso Shade & GroundcoversEdible
- Light
- Part shade when young; sun for fruit
- Moisture
- Medium–moist
- Mature size
- 12–25 ft
- Spacing
- 12–20 ft
- Bloom or harvest
- Flowers Apr–May; fruit Sep–Oct
- How it spreads
- Colonizing small tree
- What to buy
- Container or balled-and-burlapped; bare-root in early spring.
- When to plant
- Early Apr–May after soil thaws and drains; Sep–mid Oct for container/B&B. Bare-root: early spring.
In the design
Plant at least two genetically different trees for cross-pollination.
If you eat it
Fully ripe soft fruit pulp
Do not eat seeds or skin; some people are sensitive
Only eat what you planted and can name. This is not a foraging or medical guide.
