Pawpaw Tree
Asimina triloba
Custard apple family, Annonaceae
Asimina triloba, also known as the Paw Paw tree, is a deciduous tree native to temperate forests in the eastern half of North America. It is part of the custard apple family of trees and possesses shiny, tropical leaves and produces large fruit. The fruit is dense, similar to bananas, has a cylindrical shape and ranges in size from 3 to 5 inches long. Paw paw fruit is edible and is eaten by humans, but various species of wildlife enjoy it too, including birds, squirrels, opossums, and raccoons. The Zebra Swallowtail butterfly is attracted to the Paw Paw tree as well, since their larvae feeds on the foliage.
The Paw Paw tree prefers deep, rich, fertile soil and can be found growing in a variety of settings such as river bottoms and hill tops. It requires humid conditions and grows well in either full sun or shade. The Paw Paw tree yields more fruit when grown in the sun, but it grows taller with more open branching when grown in the shade.
The fruit from the Paw Paw tree is the largest edible fruit native to North America. The high nutritional value of Paw Paw fruit exceeds that found in apples, peaches, or grapes. This nutritious fruit helped Lewis and Clark on the return leg of their 1810 expedition. When they ran out of rations and available game, they survived on nuts and Paw Paw fruit.
