Pawpaw Tree Deep Dive

Pawpaw Tree

No, we are not talking about the family member you call pawpaw, but a deciduous tree native to North America. The pawpaw tree (Asimina triloba) is known for the banana / mango flavor of its large edible fruits. And it's beautiful fall colors and tropical look. One might think, why isn’t this tree widely known and on every garden center shelf? This is because the short shelf life of the fruit made it get skipped over in agriculture, so as people moved to getting food from a store and not that backyard, it fell out of thought as people lost touch with their food.

For the average gardener or one who just wants a unique fruit tree, it can be a bit challenging to find one at the local garden center. So you will most likely have to look for a garden center that will either order one for you or find one of the many companies that will ship one to your house online. Keep in mind that when purchasing your pawpaw, you need to get two different cultivars as they are not self-pollinating.

 

 

Care

If you come across a pawpaw in the wild, then it may resemble more of a shrub-like tree than a nicely shaped tree. This is because they typically grow as an understory tree. So if your plan is to have the tree out in the middle of the field in the Florida sun, then I would recommend giving the tree some protection in the afternoon until it is established. And if you are starting from seed, then put the tree in partial shade until it grows some.  Because of their growth habits in the wild, they prefer partial shade when young and can handle full sun once established.

Like most trees that are native to the US, they typically like to grow on a dead forest. Meaning they do well with thick mulch, as this keeps excess heat off the roots and helps the moisture to stay longer between waterings. With newly planted trees, they should be watered at least 2-3 times a week, maybe more. It has been really hot and dry in your area. This needs to happen for the first few months to help the tree get established.

A healthy tree won’t require much fertilizer outside of mulching yearly and letting the old mulch compost in place. If you want to give it a little boost, then I would recommend some mushroom compost or worm castings. If your garden center is out of either of those, then some good-quality manure compost will be good to use as well.

Being a native to the area, they are fairly pest-resistant, but there are a few things to keep an eye out for. One is powdery mildew, and the speckled talponia moth, which happens to be the most damaging to these trees and their fruit. I would recommend taking a look at what the larva of the Zebra swallowtail butterflies look like, as they also feed on this tree, but typically do not cause significant damage and can usually be left alone. However, you might have to fight some other wildlife over the fruit, as there are many birds, opossums, squirrels, and raccoons that will be raiding the trees for the fresh fruit as well. So, if you have a high number of fruit-stealing animals in the area, then you have plenty of reason to just grow more fruit so there is plenty for all.

Types

There are many cultivars available and possibly more in the wild that are less known. Keep in mind that you need two different types or cultivars for fruit. Here are some of the more popular varieties. I recommend thinking about how you may want to use the fruits and then choosing ones that best fit that use. If you are like me, then get at least one of each and enjoy them all.

Asimina triloba

“Sunflower” – This is the one plant that has been considered semi-self-fertile. However, you will have a guaranteed better fruit set if you have another type planted with this. This tree has medium-sized fruit with only a few seeds, and it is typically better for baking or canning.

“Allegheny” – Typically gets ripe earlier than most. Fruit has a rich, sweet flavor and has been reported to have hints of citrus.

“Wabash” – If you want excellent, fresh eating with a creamy texture from a large sweet fruit, then go no further; this is your tree.

“Wells” – so this tree may produce only medium to large fruit, but is known for being prolific. Sounds like a good companion to the Wabash.

No matter how you want to use the fruit, keep in mind to get at least two cultivars. So you will have plenty of fruit to share with family and friends.

Pruning

When pruning, you’ll want to keep in mind a few things, but past that, don’t let it frighten you. A healthy tree is forgiving and can rebound from a few missteps in the pruning process. When pruning, you typically want to take up to 1/3 of the tree. This ensures the tree has everything it needs to keep producing its own energy from the sun. When selecting what you will prune first, look for diseased branches or leaves that need to go first, then anything that is already dead. Once both of those are out of the way, step back and prune for overall shape and growth. Remember that it doesn’t have to be perfect in one pruning. If you need to take a couple of years to get your tree to the size and shape you desire, then take the couple of years and do that. This will keep the tree healthier and allow it to produce more fruit. As long as what I'm pruning off is healthy, I personally am a fan of chop and drop, meaning I take what I prune off and drop it on top of the mulch area so that as it breaks down, it feeds the soil and, in return, feeds the plants, in this case, the tree. If this isn’t practical for you, set up a location, then don’t worry, dispose of the pruning, and ensure the tree has plenty of mulch. 

Thanks for taking a read about pawpaws, and let me know if there is anything else you would like to know about them or another fruit that I haven’t covered yet. Come back next week when I do a deep dive on the Jujube tree.

If you want to change your landscape or include a garden and want to know how to incorporate fruit trees, bushes, and many other perennials with annual veggies, we can help. A personal consultation, either in person or online, will get you on the right track. Forget the learning curve, start in the right direction. If you are not in Florida, we can still get you going in the right direction with the right plants for your climate.

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