Description
Pawpaws have a distinctly tropical taste but are native to right here in Rochester. Though the trees are more numerous in Appalachia, Onöndowa’ga:’ have tended them in these forests since time immemorial, having brought this wonderful fruit to their northernmost point. The fruits are bountiful in the fall and provide a healthy dose of vitamins and fat for the winter ahead.
These trees prefer some shade when they are getting established, but enjoy partial to full sun beyond year two. Decent moisture in well drained soils is ideal but can handle more moderate conditions as well. Does not self-pollinate, so you’ll need at least two for fruit production. They usually grow to between 15′ and 20′, and can have a habit of spreading via sending clones out from their roots. If left to their own devices, they can create a lovely pawpaw thicket!
We gathered these seeds from a friend in Rochester who has three named cultivars in her front yard. They produce a remarkable number of fruits each year.
