Scientific name: Asimina triloba
Common name: Pawpaw
Native: Yes
Native range: Native to the eastern United States [3].
Distribution in North America: Click to view the USDA Plants Database page for A. triloba.
USDA Zones: 5-8 [4]
Maximum age: Unclear.
Ecology: The large, green fruits are consumed by a wide range of mammals - including raccoons, foxes, and black bears - as well as birds. The foliage is browsed by deer, and beavers eat the bark [3].
Ethnobotany: Pawpaw fruit is the largest fruit native to North America. Its flesh has a custard-like texture and a tropical flavor reminiscent of banana, pineapple, and mango [1,3]. Indigenous American groups, including the Haudenosaunee, cultivated the tree and are responsible for its large distribution [1,2,4].