Scientific Name:
Asimina triloba
Pronunciation:
uh-SIM-min-nuh try-LOE-buh
Common Name:
pawpaw, custard apple
Family Name:
Annonaceae
Plant Type:
Shrub - deciduous, Tree - deciduous
Key ID Features:
Suckering shrub to small tree with dense pyramidal or rounded crown; stem and leaves emit an unpleasant odour when bruised; flower buds ovoid and pubescent; leaves alternate, most blades obovate, 15-30cm long x 5-13cm wide, margin entire, upper surface glabrous (hairs near underside veins); flowers purplish 4-5cm wide; fruit large, round to oval, 4-11cm long, green then yellowish brown berry. Winter ID: leaf scars opposite, large, with 5 dark bundle scars; buds fuzzy.
Habit:
Upright
Form:
Round
Texture:
Very coarse
Mature Height:
3 - 5m
Mature Spread:
2 - 3m
Growth Rate:
Moderate
Origin:
Canada - eastern, U.S. - northeast, U.S. - southwest
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 6: (-23 to -18 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun
Soil/Growing Medium:
Humus rich, Well-drained
Water Use:
Moderate
Landscape Uses:
Medicinal plant, Urban agriculture, Wildlife food
Additional Info:
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple
Arrangement:
Alternate
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible, Pinnate venation
Surfaces:
Glabrous
Colour in Fall:
Yellow
Shapes:
Oblanceolate, Oblong, Obovate
Apices:
Acuminate
Bases:
Cuneate
Margins:
Entire
Additional Info:
Spectacular fall colour
Inflorescence Type:
Flowers solitary
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
6
Corolla Shape:
Rotate/stellate
Ovary Position:
Superior
Colour (petals):
Not showy, Purple, Dark-red
Flower Scent:
Unpleasant
Flower Time at Peak:
Apr, May
Additional Info:
Unpleasant smell; occasionally paired at a node
Fruit Type:
Berry (true), Edible
Fruit Colour:
Green-yellow, Brown
Fruiting Time:
Jun, Jul
Additional Info:
Showy, Edible, Tastes like banana custard
Bark or Stem Colour:
Dark Grey
Additional Info:
Dark brown gray when young, slightly scaly and rough at maturity
Leaf Bud Type:
Ovoid, Superposed
Leaf Scar Shape:
Half-round
Organ Modifications:
Suckers (stems can arise from roots)
Propagation:
Grafting
Maintenance:
Medium
Other:
Difficult to transplant; perfersdeep fertile soil
Pest Susceptibility:
(Pest resistant, Disease resistant, Deer resistant)
Specific Pests:
Racoons attacted to fruit
Course(s):
- HORT 2355
Location(s):
- (TFL) Turf Field Lab
- (TFLS) Turf Field Lab South : dead?