Pawpaw

Pawpaw - Asimina triloba

I'm so excited about this tree! A native fruit tree with large tropical- seeming fruit. I admit I have never eaten a pawpaw, but they are purported to taste like a cross between a banana and a mango in a custard-like fruit. The fruit is eaten raw and can also be made into ice cream and deserts. I've even seen alcoholic beverages made from pawpaw.

Pawpaws are the largest native North American edible fruit. An understory tree, they grow in part shade and will tolerate more sun as a mature tree. They're pollinated by beetles and at least two trees are required for pollination. Some people hang rotting meat in their trees to encourage carrion flies to pollinate the flowers! I won't be doing this, but its a bizarre and interesting technique associated with the pawpaw.

Here in the Ottawa Valley we are at its northern most range, but I'm hopeful that with some careful siting these trees will thrive. I have two in my garden near the south wall of my house that are currently weathering their third winter. They take approximately 7 years to produce fruit.