Common Pawpaw
Asimina triloba

This small tree, also called American Pawpaw, is native to eastern North America. This species spreads primarily via root suckers, but sexual reproduction also does occur. Caterpillars of the Zebra Swallowtail butterfly feed on the leaves of this plant although these leaves are unpalatable to most insects. The sweet, edible fruits have a creamy texture inside. It is sometimes called False Banana or Indian Banana.

Habitat:Bottomlands or other moist areas.
Growth Habit:Deciduous tree, growing up to 10 m, spreading by suckers.
Bloom Time:Early spring, usually before leaves.
Longevity:Short-lived.
Presence in US:AL AR DC DE FL GA IA IL IN KS KY LA MD MI MO MS NC NE NJ NY OH OK PA SC TN TX VA WV
Presence in Canada:ON
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This project was supported in part by NSF Grant IIS-03-25867 (ITR: An Electronic Field Guide: Plant Exploration and Discovery in the 21st Century) and by the Washington Biologists' Field Club.
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