tree
Pawpaw
Asimina triloba
Low riskEdible when ripecommon
Indiana banana. Large tropical leaves, maroon flowers, custard fruit in September.
A small understory tree in colonies from root sprouts. Leaves are big and drooping. Flowers are meat-colored, six-petaled, and fly-pollinated. Fruit is a green-to-yellow mango shape with tropical pulp and large brown seeds.
- Habitat
- Rich creek-bottom woods. Common in Laughery hollows.
- Season
- Flower April; fruit late August–September.
- Size
- 15–30 ft
- Field marks
- Mango leaves; 3-petaled maroon flower; custard fruit
Use
Eat ripe fruit raw, freeze pulp, or cook into bread. Seeds and skin are not food. Trees transplant poorly — grow from seed.