Paw Paw (Asimina triloba) 'custard apple / Indian banana / wild banana' 

Plant Characteristics

Plant Preference/Growing Conditions: 

Paw paw requires medium water usage and rich, moist, slightly acidic soils. It can tolerate just about any sun conditions.

Growth Habit/Description:

Paw paw is a small, short-trunked tree or large, multi-stemmed shrub, 10-40 ft. tall, with large, tropical-like leaves. The paw paw tree can grow up to 40 feet tall.

Bloom Season: 

Paw paw blooms in April and May.  

Fall and/or Winter Interest?

Yes. In late March into mid-April, single flowers emerge from rounded lateral buds along year-old branches. In mid-winter, the dark fuzzy flower buds are knobby.

Distribution

Habitat: You can find paw paw in ditches, ravines, depressions, food plains, and bottomland.

Native to Arkansas? Yes.

Native to Garland County? Yes.

Endemic to Arkansas? No.

Ecological Value

Host Plant for Caterpillars?

 Paw paw is a host plant to the caterpillar of the zebra swallowtail butterfly.

Other Known Ecological Value?

Yes. Paw paw is known to attract birds and butterflies.

Other Interesting Facts

Origin of Name: The plant received this name from a Portuguese explorer who found Native Americans eating the fruit. Since the fruit resembled what he recognized as a papaya, they began to call it paw paw. “Min” in the genus derives from the Algonquin word for “fruit.”

Related Species: Pawpaws are in the same plant family (Annonaceae) as the custard apple, cherimoya, sweetsop, soursop, and ylang-ylang.

Use For Food/Medicine: 

There are no known food or medicinal uses. The paw paw fruits are not toxic but the leaves are. While the fruit is edible, be careful handling because it can cause skin irritation. It’s important to note that you can only eat it in moderation because it can also cause gastrointestinal upset.