Passion for Pawpaw

It may have been planted by Jefferson at Monticello and chilled, a favourite dessert of Washington, but the native pawpaw has not fared well since then. This could be for two reasons. The ripe fruit deteriorates fast and ships poorly. For home gardeners, unless two genetically different varieties are planted, there is likely to be poor pollination – and it could be four to eight years before fruiting anyway, although grafting can shorten this.

Nevertheless, Asimina triloba was a favourite of native Americans east of the Rockies. They appreciated the fruit, which is technically a berry, yellow when ripe from August through October. The flesh is yellow to white with a flavour compared to banana, mango and cantaloupe. It is also much appreciated by wildlife. Native Americans used the inner bark used for ropes, fishing nets, and mats

They have been credited with spreading patches to eastern Kansas and Texas and from the Great Lakes almost to the Gulf of Mexico. As a shrub or small tree it is now found growing wild from the bottomlands of New Jersey, western New York, southern Ontario, southern Michigan, southeastern Iowa and southwestern Nebraska south to north Florida and eastern Texas. 

In its native habitats, it suckers freely and is easily transported so elsewhere. Propagation by seed is also possible, following stratification for nine weeks at 5ºC. The large leaves turn reddish-yellow in fall and with the twigs containing natural insecticides. This, and their unpleasant smell, is most off-putting to rabbits, deer oand even goats. These attributes make it a candidate for native restoration and home landscaping. The Dwarf Papaw, Asimina parviflora, is not as hardy.

Although usually known as the Common Papaw, its popularity amongst early European colonists is attested by numerous other names. These included Quaker Delight, Hillbilly Mango, Hoosier Banana, Ozark Banana, Michigan Banana, Kentucky Banana, Indiana Banana, Kansas Banana, Banago, and Asimoya. It should not be confused with the now-common tropical Papaya, first recorded in English in 1598 originally for Carica papaya.

Although, as noted, the fruit does not ship well, it has been gaining in popularity. There is an Ohio Pawpaw Growers Association and since 1999 annual Ohio Pawpaw Festival held in mid-September at Lake Snowden, near Albany in that state. Apart from family fun and games, the event is said to include sampling of pawpaw beer.

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