This guide provides Alabama farmers with comprehensive information on producing pawpaw fruit, covering propagation, cultivars, species, pollination, cultural management, pests, harvest, and postharvest handling.

Pawpaw (Asimina triloba), also called common pawpaw or North American pawpaw, is a deciduous, understory tree native to North America. It is the largest edible tree fruit native to the continental United States. Indigenous people cultivated pawpaw and likely contributed to the expansion of its historical range in the eastern states. Early settlers were also interested in this fruit: Thomas Jefferson sent seeds to contacts in Europe, and George Washington planted them at Mount Vernon. Common pawpaw is found in forest groves and along stream banks in Alabama, especially in the northern half of the state. Pawpaw also draws interest for its nutritional qualities. The fruit contains all the essential amino acids, and the tree produces natural compounds in its leaves, bark, and twig tissue that possess anticancer properties, though they are not readily bioavailable for extraction. Pawpaw trees are the host for the zebra swallowtail butterfly.

Description

Pawpaws are small, attractive trees with long, droopy, dark green, glossy leaves that have an almost tropical appearance. Deep purple or maroon flowers appear in spring. Late-summer fruit is typically 2 to 5 inches in size, oblong, and 1 to 3 inches wide. When fully ripe, the bright yellow flesh is sweet with a tropical flavor. Leaves turn yellow in the fall and are generally considered attractive autumn foliage. The Asimina genus is in the Annonaceae family (custard apple), mostly belonging in the tropics.

In sunny locations, common pawpaw forms a pyramidal shape with a single, straight trunk. Common pawpaw can reach 15 to 30 feet in height. Flowers come first in spring before the leaves, with blossoms exclusively on the previous year’s growth. Fruit matures between late July and October, depending on location (commonly August in Alabama), and the deciduous leaves drop in fall after turning yellow to gold. Pawpaw is often found in patches or groves, which consist of one or more “mother trees” and numerous smaller root suckers that appear to be separate trees.

Propagation

Pawpaw can be propagated by seed or grafting. Rooting pawpaw cuttings directly into growing media is only possible shortly after germination, which is largely impractical. Pawpaw grown from seed will display variation from its parent trees, though seeds from intentional crosses between productive cultivars have a better chance of passing on those desirable characteristics. Commercial producers should plant grafted trees consisting of scion wood from known cultivars and rootstock from generally collected seed. Digging suckers (clonal root sprouts) and replanting them is mainly unsuccessful.

Pawpaw seed needs a cold stratification period of 70 to 100 days at 35 to 50 degrees F. To fulfill this requirement, keep seeds in slightly moist sand or other sterile substrate in the refrigerator after collection. When collecting seed for stratification, remove seeds from the fruit and wash off the pulp before bagging in slightly moist refrigerated media such as sand. After stratification, plant seeds 1 inch deep in tree pots at temperatures of 70 to 85 degrees F. Pawpaw can be slow to germinate and take several months to emerge. Using bottom heat under tree pots can speed germination and seedling growth. Use deep (14-inch) tree pot containers to accommodate pawpaw’s tap root. Keep seedlings moist and in a partially shaded area when they emerge. It is also possible to plant stratified seed directly in its final growing bed, though germination will be less reliable.

Many grafting techniques used for other tree fruit apply to pawpaw: whip and tongue, bark inlay, cleft, and chip budding. Collect dormant scionwood with 4 to 5 buds in late winter to meet chilling requirements. Keep scion cold and humid in a refrigerated plastic bag with a drop of water. Graft scion onto rootstock actively growing in the spring when leaves are 1 to 2 inches long. This occurs in April in much of Alabama. Scion is generally grafted to pawpaw rootstock at least 2 years old. Whip and tongue grafts are common for small-caliper rootstock, and bark inlay grafting is a proven method for topworking larger-diameter trunks. Wrap grafts with a plastic sealing film such as Parafilm so the scion does not desiccate and to ensure tight contact between cambium layers. Chip-budding is possible in midsummer.

Cultivars

While wild pawpaw is still foraged and can be planted for wildlife and aesthetic value; improved cultivars ensure optimal fruit production. Many of these are the results of efforts by Neal Peterson and Kentucky State University.

Other Alabama Pawpaw Species

Small-flower pawpaw (Asimina parviflora) also grows throughout Alabama, commonly on dry sites. It is often found at only a few feet in height, even while mature and fruiting but can grow to 10 feet in ideal conditions. Because small-flower pawpaw has significantly smaller fruit, it is not grown for commercial fruit production, although the fruit is edible. A naturally occurring hybrid of small-flower pawpaw and common pawpaw, the piedmont pawpaw (Asimina x piedmontana), is found in the Deep South where the ranges overlap, including in Alabama. Growers in Alabama may try small-flower pawpaw or piedmont pawpaw as dwarfing rootstocks on an experimental basis. Small-flower pawpaw can tolerate winters in USDA hardiness zones 7b–10.

Slim-leaf pawpaw (Asimina angustifolia) also produces a small edible fruit. It is found in the far southeastern part of the state and the Florida Panhandle. Intentional seedling crosses are possible between Asimina species. Alabama growers in the far southern portion of the state might consider experimenting with crosses of common pawpaw, small-flower pawpaw, slim-leaf pawpaw, and woolly pawpaw (Asimina incana), which is found in north Florida and south Georgia.

Pollination Considerations

Pawpaw flowers are pollinated by flies and beetles. They are not usually self-fertile, so they need a pollinator plant (pollinizer) to set fruit. Pollen from an unrelated, genetically different pawpaw is usually necessary for fertilization and fruit set: flowers all from a single clonal pawpaw grove cannot pollinate each other. Pawpaw plantings should include at least two cultivars with overlapping bloom periods.

Individual pawpaw flowers contain both male and female reproductive parts in a single season, but they are dichogamous (a single flower produces pollen and has a receptive ovary at different times). Pawpaw flowers are also protogynous: they emerge with female parts (a receptive stigma), then become male (pollen producing). To pollinate by hand, collect pollen from a flower in the male stage with a ball of anthers that is brown, loose, and friable (appears rough, dusty, with visible pollen) and transfer it to the glossy, sticky pistil of a flower in the female stage from a different cultivar. To maximize fruit size and avoid breaking limbs, do not overburden the tree by hand pollinating. Hand pollination followed by bagging the pollinated flowers to exclude other pollinators is used when crossing between pawpaw cultivars for breeding purposes.

Lady beetles are known pawpaw pollinators in Alabama. Nitidulid beetles, bottle flies, and march flies (lovebugs) are also pawpaw pollinators. Hand pollination might be considered when wild pollinators are scarce, but it is laborious. For hand pollination, a small artist’s paintbrush is used to transfer the yellow pollen from the pollinizer tree to the stigma of another cultivar. Flowers have a foul odor to attract flies. Instead of hand pollinating, some pawpaw growers hang smelly objects in the orchard to attract flies.

Site Selection and Preparation

Common pawpaw grows well in USDA hardiness zones 5b through 8 (nearly all of Alabama). Moderate soil fertility with adequate drainage is best. Planting on berms is an option where soil drainage is poor. Selecting a relatively elevated site is also a good idea to avoid spring frost pockets that can kill flowers. Pawpaws need full sun for best production, though they should be partially shaded for the first year after planting. When establishing an orchard, growers also might consider proximity to habitat of native pollinators, such as diverse forests and native grasslands.

When designing the layout of the rows for larger plantings, the grower should remember to have multiple varieties for cross-pollination. Rows should have vegetation controlled with herbicide or mulch, though be aware that because pawpaw plants sucker (send up shoots away from the main stem but through the same root system), systemic herbicides can inadvertently be taken up by the primary trunk when sprayed on surrounding vegetation if suckers are present. Noncompetitive ground cover should be established between the rows to control erosion. Perennial weeds such as johnsongrass should be controlled before orchard establishment.

Pawpaw trees will grow and produce marginal fruit yields as a shaded understory plant, and they happily grow as a riparian buffer tree. Pawpaws may also work as shade trees in agroforestry systems since they are not preferred browse for goats and other herbivores. In a small home orchard, the grower might consider integrating pawpaws as a partial understory tree near other natives such as oak, hickory, or black walnut (pawpaws are not adversely affected by black walnut’s allelopathic properties).

Planting Process and Considerations

Container-grown trees 1 to 3 years old are recommended for establishing an orchard: bare root pawpaw transplants have erratic viability. Early spring is the best time to plant pawpaws. For commercial planting, place trees 6 to 10 feet apart within a row, with rows 15 to 20 feet apart. Seedlings and grafted nursery trees less than 24 inches in height benefit from shading during the establishment year. Suspend 33 percent shade cloth above each transplant on tomato cages or other supports. With grafted trees, plant the graft several inches above the soil line.

Fertility

Ongoing research is seeking to better understand soil fertility requirements for best pawpaw production. General recommendations for fruit tree levels of phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium can serve as a starting point. The grower should soil test before orchard establishment and correct nutrient deficiencies based on tree fruit recommendations. After that, annual applications of nitrogen will be beneficial at 100 pounds per acre per year. The ideal pH is 5.5 to 6.5. Research from Missouri shows that phosphorus level is best at 90 pounds per acre and potassium at 250 pounds per acre. Adequate calcium is also essential.

One of two approaches can be used for nutrient application: the entire set of nutrients in spring as growth begins or half at that time and half 1 month later. Broadcast fertilizer from the trunk to the outermost branches. Growers should also consider increasing soil organic matter at the time of planting to encourage associations with arbuscular mycorrhizae, which will increase nutrient uptake. Avoid fertilizing after midsummer.

Irrigation

Pawpaws are not drought tolerant: 1 to 2 inches of water per week will lead to the best growth. Early in the season, water is needed to support vegetative growth. As fruit develops in the heat of the late summer, adequate moisture is necessary for high-quality fruit. Apply water in the orchard through drip tape on either side of the trunk or a microsprinkler, which covers the root zone. Mulch can retain moisture and eliminate in-row vegetative competition but can also attract mice and voles.

Pruning

As with other trees, light availability within the canopy is a key factor for success in producing high-quality pawpaw fruit. A central leader system can accomplish this goal. A single trunk (leader) should be maintained with scaffolded branches radiating from that center with enough room for air and light movement between. Limb-spreading to increase crotch angles will increase branch strength. Pruning to this central leader system is critical in the first few years. After that, growers should remove limbs that cross or rub against each other.

Weeds

Elimination of perennial weeds is critical before tree establishment. A 3- to 4-foot-wide band on either side of the trees should be managed weed free when trees are planted in rows. This can be accomplished with herbicides, mulch, or a weed-barrier fabric. Several herbicides are labeled for use with pawpaws, but growers should always read the label to ensure appropriate use. Pawpaw root systems are shallow. Tillage should only be done cautiously to avoid damaging roots. Maintain the paths between rows with mowed vegetation consisting of planted grasses and legumes, such as white clover. Maintain this edge between the vegetation and weed-free area under the trees through postemergent herbicide application, tillage, or other mechanical means. Remove root suckers before herbicide application to avoid injury to the mother trees. At the time of publication, several postemergent herbicides containing glyphosate and paraquat are labeled for pawpaw. Be sure to shield trunks and remove all suckers if you choose to use them. Strips of native grasses and flowers around the orchard may serve as beneficial insect habitat.

Insect Pests

As native plants, pawpaws are generally fairly pest resistant for fruit trees. Their leaves, seeds, and bark contain acetogenins, which act as toxins and feeding deterrents for many organisms. However, there are several pests and diseases to be aware of. Trees are more likely to be affected by pests when they are old enough to bear fruit, and pests will build up in larger plantings.

The pawpaw peduncle borer (PPB), Talponia plummeriana, is a moth in the family Tortricidae. This family contains some of the most devastating pests of fruit crops such as the codling moth (Cydia pomonella) and the oriental fruit moth (Grapholita molesta). The adult PPB is approximately 6 millimeters in length with gray-speckled wings and a wide copper band at the distal portion of the wings. The larval stage is the most destructive, causing damage to stems, roots, and flower peduncles.

Asimina webworm moth (Omphalocera munroei) is another important pest of pawpaw. The adults are striped, black and orange, and up to 2 inches long. In summer, they feed on vegetative portions of the tree; chewed leaves and webbing will be visible. Larvae tie leaves together for protection while feeding, and foliage eventually dies. Infested parts of the tree should be removed for control.

The larvae of the pawpaw leafroller (Choristoneura parallela), sometimes called spotted fireworm, also tie leaves together and feed inside. Larvae are olive green with white spots. Moths are bell shaped with parallel orange to brown bands. Infected tree areas should be removed and burned. Pawpaw leafroller is also a soybean pest.

Japanese beetles (Popillia japonica) overwinter below the frost line as grubs. Adults emerge in late spring and feed on foliage for 4 to 6 weeks, skeletonizing leaves. Adults lay eggs in the soil, hatching in the summer. Larvae move back into the soil in fall.

Other pawpaw pests may include stinging rose caterpillar (Parasa indetermina), pawpaw sphinx moth (Dolba hyloeus), granulate ambrosia beetle (Xylosandrus crassiusculus), brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys), and spotted wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii). Trapping, manual removal, and orchard cleanliness and sanitation are recommended to combat these pests.

Pawpaw growers should also be aware that pawpaws are a host to the zebra swallowtail butterfly (Eurytides marcellus). This native butterfly relies on the pawpaw for its larvae to feed on leaves. They can cause significant damage to young trees but are rarely a problem on mature plantings. Larvae are up to 2 inches long with green, white, blue, and yellow bands. Adults are black and white striped with spans up to 3.5 inches. Females deposit eggs on the underside of leaves. The acetogenins in pawpaw leaves protect zebra swallowtails from predation by birds.

Deer will not eat leaves or twigs but will consume fallen fruit. They can also damage trunks by rubbing against them.

Disease Management

Leaf spot, a fungal disease caused by a complex of Mycocentrospora asiminae, Rhopaloconidium asiminae, and Phyllosticta asiminae, is found on leaves and fruit. Infection occurs when leaves remain wet for an extended period. The disease first appears as tan spots with brown borders and turns into dark brown to black lesions. These can eventually crack open and damage fruit.

The disease sooty blotch, caused by several fungi, appears as surface blemishes on the fruit. Black blotches resembling soot appear on fruit. This infection occurs during extended periods of warmth, high humidity, and rainfall, but is mostly superficial and can be scrubbed off.

Armillaria root rot (Armillaria mellea), also called oak root rot, has been reported in north Alabama as a devastating disease of mature pawpaw plantings. Support the health of the trees through appropriate fertility and irrigation programs and remove any infected trees.

Harvest and Postharvest

Pawpaw harvest happens from late summer to early fall, depending on location, conditions, and varieties. In Alabama, fruit may be ready between July and late September. Fruits start off as green and firm. Once they start to soften, they quickly become ripe and perishable. Some cultivars also have a color change when ripe, from darker green to lighter green and yellow. Fruit skin is delicate and prone to bruises and mechanical damage when ripe. Pick pawpaws off the tree when flesh first starts to soften, since they quickly deteriorate. However, be aware that underripe pawpaws can cause gastrointestinal distress. Trees should be checked and harvested every day during the harvest period for the best fruit quality. Harvested fruit should be refrigerated at 32 to 40 degrees F and 90 to 95 percent relative humidity as soon as possible after harvest to avoid fermentation and browning. Pawpaws are highly perishable at room temperature, only lasting a few days. Under refrigeration, quality will decline after a few weeks. Pawpaw continues to respire and produce ethylene (ripening hormone) after harvest, peaking production after 3 days.

Processing and Marketing

Pawpaw can be consumed fresh or processed into frozen pulp for products such as ice cream, smoothies, beer, and baked goods. A fruit pulper should be used to remove seeds and skin before storing frozen pulp. Consult your county health department to ensure compliance with local regulations if you are selling frozen or value-added products.

Pawpaw products can often be used in recipes that call for banana, mango, and pineapple. Markets are limited but expected to grow. Consider selling fresh fruit to restaurants and at farmers markets and frozen pulp to specialty grocers, bakeries, and breweries.

Compounds

Like other fruits such as avocado, cherimoya (Annona cherimola), and soursop (Annona muricata), pawpaws contain acetogenin compounds. In pawpaw, annonaceous acetogenins are found in twigs, unripe fruit, seeds, roots, and bark. These compounds have potential anticancer, insecticidal, and piscicidal properties, though commercial extraction for those uses has been difficult. Acetogenin compounds have also been implicated in increased risk of neurodegenerative disease in communities with daily consumption. Pawpaw consumers should avoid ingesting underripe fruit and seeds, and practice moderation in pawpaw consumption as a reasonable person would do with any fruit.

Pawpaw at Winfred Thomas Research Station

A pawpaw research planting was established in 2000 at the Winfred Thomas Research Station at Alabama A&M University in Hazel Green, Alabama. Cultivars included ‘Overleese’, ‘Mitchell’, ‘Broad’, ‘Cawood’, and ‘421’, with the addition of ‘Mango’, ‘Taytwo’, ‘Sunflower’, and ‘Kristen’ in 2003. Trees were planted with no irrigation and took 5 years to first production. The most productive cultivar was ‘421’, named after Highway 421 near Bristol, Tennessee, where it was found.

For More Information

• Archbold D and Pomper K. (n.d.). Pawpaw: recommendations for maintaining postharvest quality. UC Davis Postharvest Research and Extension Center; [cited April 15, 2024].
• Blake J, Reighard G, and Polomski R. 2022. Pawpaw. Clemson Cooperative Extension. HGIC 1360.
• Bordelon B. 2001. Growing pawpaws. Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service publication HO-220-W.
• Byers P, Cai Z, Gold M, Krishnaswamy K, Lin C, Lovell S, Thomas A, and Warmund M. 2022. Growing and marketing pawpaws in Missouri. University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry.
• Cai Z, Gold M, and Brannan R. 2019. An exploratory analysis of US consumer preferences for North American pawpaw. Agroforestry Systems. 93: 1673–1685.
• Calloway BM. 1990. The pawpaw (Asimina triloba). Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY. Pub. No. CRS-Hort1-901T.
• Faegri, K., and L. van der Piji. 1971. The principles of pollination ecology. Pergammon, New York.
• Huang H, Layne D, and Kubisiak T. 2003. Molecular characterization of cultivated pawpaw (Asimina triloba) using RAPD markers. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 128(1): 85-93.
• Jones S and Layne D. 1997. Cooking with pawpaws. Kentucky State University bulletin; [cited May 8, 2024].
• Jones S, Peterson N, Turner T, Pomper K, and Layne D. Pawpaw planting guide. Kentucky State University; [cited March 11, 2023].
• Layne, D.R. 1996. The Pawpaw [Asimina triloba (L.) Dunal]: A new fruit crop for Kentucky and the United States. HortScience 31(5):777-784.
• Losada J.M., Hormaza J.I. and Lora J. (2017). Pollen-pistil interaction in pawpaw (Asimina triloba), the northernmost species of the mainly tropical family Annonaceae. American Journal of Botany 104(12), 1891-1903.
• Merwin IA, Farkas A, Brown M, and Peck GM. 2010. Establishment, productivity, and pollination of 28 pawpaw genotypes in upstate New York. [presentation].
• Moore A. 2015. Pawpaw: in search of America’s forgotten fruit. Chelsea Green Publishing.
• Osatuke, A, Dembrosky S, and Pritts, M. Pawpaws in New York: a guide on how to grow and care for pawpaws. Cornell Cooperative Extension.
• Peterson, NR. 2003. Pawpaw variety development: a history and future prospects. HortTechnology 13(3): 449-454.
• Pomper K, Layne D, Peterson NR, and Wolfe D. 2003. The pawpaw regional variety trial: background and early data. HortTechnology 13(3): 412 – 417.
• Pomper K, Lowe J, Crabtree S, and Keller W. 2009. Identification of annonaceous acetogenins in the ripe fruit of the North American pawpaw (Asimina triloba). J. Agric. Food Chem. 57(18): 8339-8343.
• Pomper K and Layne D. 2005. The North American pawpaw: botany and horticulture. Horticultural Reviews. 31.
• Scott R and Sullivan W. 2007. A review of suitable companion crops for black walnut. Agroforestry Systems. 71: 185-103.
• Wykoff W. 2009. On the natural distribution of pawpaw in the northeast. The Nutshell: the Quarterly Newsletter of the Northern Nutgrowers Association, pp. 23-32.

Websites

• Pawpaw. Frankfort, KY: Kentucky State University [accessed April 17, 2024].
• North Carolina extension gardener plant toolbox: Asimina triloba. NC State Extension. [accessed April 17, 2024].
• Peterson Pawpaws Education and Information Center. c2024. [accessed April 17, 2024].

 

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Holt Akers-Campbell, Regional Extension Agent, Commercial Horticulture, and Rhonda Britton, Research and Innovation Campus Engineer, both with Auburn University; and Clement Akotsen-Mensah, Extension State IPM Specialist, Alabama A&M University

New July 2024, Pawpaw Production Guide, ANR-3095