Paw Paw (Asimina triloba)

Paw Paws are small trees 6-30 feet high that grow in lowland forests. They don’t like standing water and they don’t like it dry. But, there needs to be enough organic material in the soil to hold water.

The trees bloom in the spring before the leaves come out. Flowers are large and burgundy colored and have a musty smell. These flowers along with red trillium are pollinated by flies. In order for fruit to form there needs to be more than one plant, each with different genetics. Paw paw grows colonies from suckers, but all of those in a colony would have the same genetics, which wouldn’t likely produce fruit.

Leaves of these trees are up to 12 inches long and 2-4 inches wide with smooth edges and smooth top sides.

Fruits are up to six inches long and two inches across. They are smooth and green when unripe and turn greenish yellow or yellow when ripe. The texture of the ripe fruit is like custard and the taste is reminiscent of a banana. There are large seeds in the fruit.

Paw Paw is the host for the Zebra Swallowtail and the Paw Paw Sphinx Moth. Medium sized mammals and turtles eat the fruit and spread the seed.

Paw Paw (Asimina triloba)

Michigan Flora reference page for statewide distribution: Paw Paw

Height: 6-30 feet

Bloom Time: May-June

Soil: mesic loam rich with organic material

Sun: part-sun, dappled light

Plant spacing: 6 feet

Flower: burgundy

Seed source: Michigan