🍎 Pawpaw
Asimina triloba
fruits deciduous tree
☀️ Sun
full sun (fruiting) / shade (young)
💧 Water
consistently moist; native to river bottoms
🗺️ Zones
5–9
🪴 Soil Type
deep rich loam, high organic matter
🧪 Soil pH
5.5–7.0
📏 Spacing
15-20 ft apart (small understory tree)
📅 Days to Maturity
4-8 years (from seed); 3-4 years from grafted trees
🍴 Edible Parts
🍽️ ["Fruit"]
🤝 Companions (6)
Nutrient-rich mulch; young pawpaws need shade — comfrey provides some
🤝 Clover
Nitrogen fixer; groundcover
🤝 Gooseberry / Currant
Understory fruit bushes in pawpaw guild; tolerate partial shade
🤝 Pawpaw (multiple varieties)
Pawpaws are not self-fertile — need genetically different individuals for pollination
Attracts beneficials; pawpaw has few pests but pollinator attraction helps
🤝 Marigold
Nematode suppression
⚠️ Keep Apart (2)
⚠️ Walnut trees
Juglone sensitivity — pawpaws are surprisingly tolerant but perform poorly near walnuts
⚠️ Grass
Root competition; young pawpaws need protected understory
💊 Medicinal Uses
Contains acetogenins (annonaceous acetogenins) with potential anti-cancer and pesticidal properties. Rich in antioxidants, vitamin C, and magnesium. Traditional Native American remedy for digestive health, parasites, and as a general tonic. Seeds and bark used as emetic and for head lice. NOTE: acetogenins may be neurotoxic in high doses; seeds not edible.