Scientific Name: Asimina triloba
Common Name: pawpaw, custard apple
Family Name: Annonaceae
Origin: Canada - eastern, U.S. - northeast, U.S. - southwest
Hardiness Zone: Zone 6: (-23 to -18 °C)
Plant Type: Shrub - deciduous, Tree - deciduous
Mature Size: 3 - 5m x 2 - 3m (height x width)
Habit: Upright
Form: Round
Texture: Very coarse
Landscape Uses: Medicinal plant, Urban agriculture, Wildlife food
Exposure: Full sun
Soil or Media: Humus rich, Well-drained
Leaves: Simple, Alternate, Soft flexible, Pinnate venation, Glabrous, Oblanceolate, Oblong, Obovate, Entire
Flowers: Flowers solitary, Purple, Dark-red, Apr-May
Fruit: Berry (true), Edible, Green-yellow, Brown, Jun-Jul
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, 30-30cm long x 7-15cm wide, margin entire, upper surface glabrous (hairs near underside veins); flowers purpish 4-5cm wide; fruit large, round to oval, 4-11cm long, green then yellowish brown berry. Winter ID: leaf scar opposite, large, with 5 dark bundle scars; buds fuzzy.