Pawpaw care and growing guide: expert tips for success

View from below of a ripening green asimina fruit growing on a pawpaw tree lit by the sun.

(Image credit: Gajus / Getty)

published 7 October 2022

The pawpaw, Asimina Triloba, is a fruit tree or large shrub that’s a member of the custard apple family. It makes a great addition to the garden, both for its unusual and nutritious fruit and its great ornamental qualities.

Despite being recognised as the largest edible fruit native to North America, it has been very much a forgotten food, although currently, it’s enjoying a bit of a revival in fortunes as we re-examine our native plant heritage. There are new cultivars available and the number of pawpaw farmers is increasing.

The pawpaw has extraordinary maroon flowers in spring, that are around 2in (5cm) across and appear on bare stems. These are followed by large yellowish-green fruits, looking a little like long mangoes that grow in clusters - they are sometimes known as false or wild bananas.

The large, oval leaves are also very attractive and have great fall coloring among deciduous and evergreen trees alike.

common pawpaw, cherimoya (Asimina triloba), flower, — *Dark maroon flowers are followed by nutritious edible fruits*

Pawpaw trees: key facts

Plant type: Fruiting tree
Mature size: 20-30ft (7-9m)
Soil type: Fertile, moist, well-drained
Soil PH: Slightly acidic to neutral
Time of year to plant: Fall
Flowering time of year: Spring
Flower color: Maroon
Hardiness zones: USDA 5-9
Scientific name: Asimina triloba
Common name: Pawpaw, custard apple, Indiana banana, wild banana

Flowering Asimina triloba, the papaw, pawpaw, paw paw, or paw-paw tree — *A mature pawpaw tree can reach up to 30ft tall*

Different types of pawpaw tree

The Asimina genus includes around eight species in eastern N. America, including Asimina obovata, also called the ‘bigflower pawpaw’ that’s native to Florida and better suited to drier locations. However, only Asimina triloba can be grown outdoors as a backyard tree in the UK.

There are as many as 30 named cultivars, and while pawpaws generally need to be planted in pairs to encourage pollination, there are some reportedly self-fertile varieties such as Asimina triloba ‘Sunflower’, Asimina triloba ‘Prima’, Asimina triloba ‘Davis’.

The pawpaw are among some of the best fruit trees. Pawpaw guru, Neal Peterson from Peterson PawPaws (opens in new tab) has bred several patented named varieties with fruits that are larger and more fleshy and these include: ’Allegheny’, ‘Potomac’, ‘Rappahannock’, ‘Shenandoah’, ‘Susquehanna’, ‘Tallahatchie’.

*The Asimina triloba 'Prima' is self fertile*

How to use pawpaw in your yard

Pawpaw are deciduous trees with a very attractive upright habit and natural pyramid form – their compact size and year-round interest with flowers, foliage, fruit and fall color make them good trees for small gardens, particularly where they will benefit from a sheltered location.

Plant pawpaws in pairs or in a row, as you might for an orchard, 10ft (3m) apart to allow for effective fruiting and harvesting. You could also exploit them as understorey trees, landscaping around trees that are taller, as long as they aren’t in heavy shade; then plant beneath them to create a productive, ornamental border.

The best plants under trees might include fruit bushes such as blueberries and huckleberries with strawberries for ground cover to create a forest garden effect.

common pawpaw, cherimoya (Asimina triloba), habit — *Try underplanting the pawpaw with fruit bushes*

When, where and how to plant a pawpaw

Growing pawpaws can be tricky for beginners as they need quite specific conditions to get established. The most important rule to remember is to plant trees in pairs, as they will not fruit when they are solo.

Plant bare root trees, young saplings or pot grown grafted trees directly into the ground in fall or early spring. Soil should be acid to neutral, fertile and moist but well drained.

These are trees native to forest edges, growing with shelter and some shade from taller specimens, and plenty of leaf litter on the ground, so it’s important to try and replicate these conditions, by adding lots of good organic matter to the planting area. And choose a sheltered spot where young plants are not exposed to excessive wind.

Pawpaws also like plenty of moisture and need to be kept well-watered in the early years. However, when choosing a tree for your garden, bear in mind that while pawpaw do well in damp soils, they don’t respond well to boggy or swampy situations. They don’t require much pruning other than to remove dead wood and damaged branches.

Buy bare root pawpaw in the US: view at Monticello (opens in new tab)

The pawpaw (Asimina triloba) is an understory tree, native to North America with red-purple flowers. — *The pawpaw tree produces maroon flowers in spring*

How to make more pawpaws

It is possible to save the seed from pawpaw fruits and get free seeds. You can grow your own trees, providing seeds get the right amount of chilling to encourage germination. However, seeds from named cultivars grown as grafted trees will not come true to their cultivated parent.

For more expert gardeners, you can try traditional grafting methods – do this in late spring as leaves are appearing on your chosen rootstock. Young scions can grow very fast over the first summer, so do remember to stake them and protect them from bird damage.

Neal Peterson says: 'It is important to graft when the weather is suitable ― warm, sunny, not windy, in other words, a perfect spring day. Cloudy, cool, rainy and blustery conditions are not ideal, and the results may disappoint you. If the rootstock is small (1/4-1/2in) then I use a whip graft. For larger stock (1-3in) I use bark inlay technique.'

Macro closeup of hand holding ripe open juicy sweet pawpaw fruit in garden wild foraging with yellow texture and seeds — *Save seeds from your pawpaw for planting more trees*

What are the common problems with pawpaw trees?

Pawpaw trees are not generally prone to much damage from pests and disease, although there are native insects that use the tree as part of their lifecycle. The leaves are a favorite food for the larvae of the zebra swallowtail butterfly, but while this damage may harm younger trees, it won’t affect fruit production on mature pawpaws.

Pawpaw Peduncle Borer is a small native moth and the larvae feed on the flowers, so this can kill the flower which will mean crop losses. The Pawpaw webworm is more destructive, with larvae feeding on the tips of branches and killing the leaves. However, as it affects trees in late summer, there is no real harm done to the growth of the tree.

The other common problem with growing pawpaws is that it can be difficult for fruit to set successfully. You need to have two trees for good cross pollination and fruiting, and these may need a helping hand. They are not pollinated by bees, but by flies and beetles. If hand pollinating, use a soft brush to transfer the pollen from the flowers of one tree to its partner tree.

zebra swallowtail butterfly — *The larvae of the Zebra swallowtail butterfly enjoy eating the leaves of the pawpaw*

How tall do pawpaw trees get?

Pawpaws make great small trees, growing to approximately 20ft (7m) high over a span of around 20 years. But older trees can grow much taller in the right setting and trees can have a very long lifespan.

How long does it take to grow a pawpaw tree?

It is possible to grow pawpaws from seed saved from the fruits, but they are not fast growing trees as they need a long period of cold to break dormancy and germinate. The large seeds look a little like broad or lima beans.

Pawpaw grower Susan Owen, from The Lily Patch Farm (opens in new tab) in North Carolina starts around 400 trees from seed every year. She says whatever you do, don’t let the seeds dry out: 'When you take seeds from the fruit, you have to keep them moist or store them in the fridge and keep them damp; or plant them direct – but they are difficult to transplant so choose your spot.'

You can sow seeds into pots and grow on before planting out, but bear in mind that if grown from seed, a pawpaw tree can take up to nine years to produce fruit. If you buy grafted pawpaw trees, around 2-3 years old, you should be able to harvest fruits within five years.

Clusters of fresh American paw paw fruit hang in a paw paw tree — *If grown from seed, pawpaws can take up to nine years to produce fruit*

Where is the best place to plant a pawpaw tree?

The native pawpaw tree is an understorey tree growing on the edges of forests, and prefers to be planted in a sheltered spot, where it isn’t exposed to high winds and direct extreme sunshine.

Paw Paw tree ( Asimina triloba) — *When growing in the wild the pawpaw tree grows in sheltered shade*

Can you eat pawpaw fruit?

Pawpaw are flowering trees in springtime, covered in maroon leaves. Afterwards the fruits form, and ripen from late summer to fall. Ripe pawpaw fruit usually has a yellow skin, is slightly soft to the touch and is wonderfully fragrant. They will naturally fall from the tree but can be picked with a gentle pull.

The soft, orangey flesh has a sweet, creamy consistency. However, they don’t store well and spoil quickly, so the fruits are best eaten soon after picking. Scoop the flesh straight from the fruit or use for pawpaw ice cream, puddings and cheesecakes.

However you choose to eat the fruits, the pawpaw makes a great addition to your diet, being high in protein, antioxidants, vitamins A and C and essential minerals.

Closeup view of female hand harvesting delicious ripe asimina fruits growing on a paw paw tree. — *Pawpaw fruits are edible and very nutritious*

Is pawpaw the same as papaya?

American pawpaws are often confused by name with papaya, Carica papaya, that is also referred to as a pawpaw. However, they are a totally distinct species with differing leaf shapes and fruits. Pawpaws are also temperate plants while papayas grow in tropical gardens and climates.

Close-Up Of papaya Fruits Growing On Tree — *Pawpaw is often confused with the papaya*

Where to buy pawpaw trees

Pawpaw trees can be found growing wild in as many as 26 eastern states, from the Gulf of Mexico to the borders of Canada and they can also thrive in the UK climate, although need consistent heat to produce ripe fruit.

You can find seedlings and young trees to buy online.

Shop pawpaw trees in the US:

Shop for pawpaw trees at Amazon (opens in new tab)
Shop for pawpaw trees at Fast Growing Trees (opens in new tab)
Shop for pawpaw trees at Nature Hills (opens in new tab)

Shop pawpaw trees in the UK:

Shop for pawpaw trees at Amazon (opens in new tab)
Shop for pawpaw trees at Primrose (opens in new tab)
Shop for pawpaw trees at You Garden (opens in new tab)

In her years of gardening, Camilla has designed planting schemes for gardens large and small in and around London, written about plants and how to grow them, and worked on BBC gardening TV shows. She's passionate about sharing tips, advice and the joy of plants in this great community of gardeners that we’re all part of, and she now also works as a therapeutic horticulturist, teaching growing for wellbeing and mental health. Her unfulfilled ambition is to crack the ultimate dog-friendly garden - she thinks getting it right depends more on the dog than the plants...