Asimina triloba / Paw Paw

Paw paws are the largest native fruit in the US. Very tropical vibes. Banana, mango, papaya flavors. Fruit doesn’t keep well off the tree, so it’s not available commercially—in order to enjoy it, you must grow it! While they are self-fruiting they will produce more fruit if you have multiple trees and prefer to grow in small groves.

Because they’re native, paw paws have few pest problems and can be the easiest fruit tree to grow. They are said to be deer resistant, but we recommend protecting them from deer anyway - we’ve gotten reports of deer munching paw paws - don’t take a chance.

Newly planted paw paw trees require consistent moisture and even prefer a little shade, but as they fruit will do best with at least 6 hours of sun a day. In their natural habitat, they often grow under the canopy of larger trees.

Water them deeply once a week, ensuring the soil remains evenly moist but not waterlogged. Mulching around the base of the tree can help retain soil moisture and regulate temperature, but make sure to not mulch too close to the trunk.

For fruit tree tips read our blog post “Tips for Growing Fruit Trees in the Hudson Valley”:

https://www.onenaturellc.com/rewild/tips-for-growing-fruit-trees-in-the-hudson-valley

For plant description and information click below:

https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/cs_astr.pdf