Pawpaw

Asimina triloba Syn. Uvaria triloba

Family: Anonaceae
Perennial deciduous tree, hardy to -20 degrees. Native to Central and Southern
United States. America's largest edible fruit, the banana-like Paw Paw grows on a
small understory tree, frequenting the creeks and hollow of the Appalachias and the
gardens of an odd class of exotic fruit officianados. The tree itself, with its giant,
drooping, dog's tongue leaves, looks like an escapee from the tropical rainforest,
which it may well be. Tasting sometimes delicious, sometimes terrible, the Paw Paw
was well known to Native Americans and early settlers as a survival food and as a
sedative and laxative medicine. The tincture of the seed is a bitter tonic and
vermifuge, unpleasantly emetic in high dosage. The leaves are pulverized into a
poultice, used to bring boils to a head and as an application to speed the healing of
skin ulcers. Modern researchers have continued the ages-old tradition of unlocking
the hidden attributes of this oddly attractive tree by attempting to isolate anti-cancer
compunds from the bark and twigs. Much of this research is being conducted by Dr.
Desmond Layne at Kentucky State University in Frankfort. Cultivation: Extra care.
The stored seed must be kept cold and moist. Sow in fall or spring. At first, the seed
forms a thick, branching root and then after 2 to 3 months sends up a fast-growing
stem and leaves. Grow seedlings out for one year in gallon pots and transplant to
landscape in the spring. Prefers rich, well-drained, slightly acid (pH 5.5-6.5) soil and
some shade. Grows to 10 to 25 feet tall.

Return to Herb Seed Index