Description

PawPaws, Asimina triloba, are the most northern species of a family of tropical fruits. The ripe fruit is often referred to as tropical in flavor and texture. The trees themselves, when grown in full sun, have a tropical appearance. The skins are not edible, but the custard like ripe flesh is delightful, fresh or used in baked goods. One of the best uses is PawPaw Ice Cream. Recently, some brewers are using PawPaws to brew artisanal beers.

PawPaws are adapted to grow in full shade but the lack of sunlight reduces their ability to produce fruit. The formula, Sunlight= Flowers= Fruit applies even to shade tolerant PawPaws. Shade grown wild trees may only have 1 or 2 fruits per tree, per year. But, trees grown in full sun will have many more fruits per tree.

PawPaws often grow in thickets that consist of groups of trees growing as root suckers from a single mother tree. This means all the trees in the group are genetically identical. Plants are often resistant to self pollination. It can and does occur but the resulting fruit and offspring are sub par. Planting more than one variety, even if they are all seedlings, really helps pollination and fruit set.

The flowers open in early spring before the leaves come out. They are a lovely burgundy red color. They are pollinated by flies and beetles and it is said the fragrance is akin to rotting meat. ( I have not sniffed to find out!) The pollinators of PawPaws do not travel far so trees should be less than 50′ apart to get good pollination.

Fall color varies from year to year but can be a spectacular yellow. The bark is smooth and grey and as trees mature, Lichens will grow on the bark.

Grafted PawPaw- Atwood ®

This PawPaw was selected for its abundant fruit production by Dr. Pomper at Kentucky State. The fruit are not the very largest at 1/4 to 1/2 pounds each but the sheer abundance makes up for it. A mature tree can yield 40 pounds of fruit per year. The fruit are aromatic with tropical overtones. The flesh is creamy and yellow in color.

Grafted PawPaw- Benson ®

This is a productive variety with unique, almost round fruit. The aromatic fruit has overtones of Banana, Pineapple and Mango. The flesh is a darker orange color and the fruit has a lower percentage of seed by weight than many other varieties. The fruit are large and the trees are disease resistant. A Kentucky State release.

Grafted PawPaw- Chappell ®

Chappell produces large to very large aromatic, sweet, flavorful fruit. Fruit size averages 1/2 to 3/4 lb with a few that top 1 pound! It is a very fast growing selection with very good disease resistance. Fruit ripens late in the season. From the Kentucky State PawPaw breeding program

Grafted PawPaw Dunnigan ®

A new Kentucky State release. Fast growing and early ripening so good for shorter seasons and for early season extension in the south. Tends to be a little more seedy than some of the improved varieties. Good flavor and disease resistant. Flavor is mild pineapple with a long floral finish.

Grafted PawPaw Pomper’s Choice ®

A new Kentucky State release. Very large fruit with a complex sophisticated blend of pineapple and  mango with a strawberry finish. The texture is smooth with no grit. Thick skin keeps the fruit clean and mostly disease free. Seed to pulp ratio is below 7%.

Grafted PawPaw Dale

The Dale PawPaw is from Dale Indiana. It is an extra large fruit with many over a pound. Very floral and flavorful. Dale has won several PawPaw contests for largest fruit.

 

Grafted PawPaw- Green River Belle

Green River Belle is an older Kentucky variety that is somewhat productive of medium sized fruit with a good flavor.

Grafted PawPaw Jerry’s Big Girl

Jerry’s Big Girl is a tree bred by Jerry Lehman in Indiana. The fruit is large to extra large ranging from 3/4lb to 1lb+. Flavor is rich tropical banana. Ripens misto late season.

Grafted PawPaw Kentucky Champion

Kentucky Champion comes from Madison County, Kentucky. It is a vigorously growing tree that produces a moderate crop of half pound+ fruit. The large fruit has a flavor that is a mellow tropical Mango with an aromatic aftertaste.

Grafted PawPaw Kentucky Legend

This tree has quite the history. Crosses made by Jerry Lehman in Indiana. Seed sent to Cliff England to grow out in Kentucky. Tree selected and named by Woody Walker in North Carolina. Flavor is tropical pineapple and flesh is dense. Fruit keeps well and will ripen off the tree which is unusual for pawpaws.

Grafted PawPaw Lehmans Delight

Originated with Jerry Lehman as 275-48. It can throw super jumbo crops of very large PawPaws. Flavor is tropical banana. Very low seed to weight percentage (4.3%)

Grafted PawPaw Maria’s Joy

A large PawPaw with a mango, pineapple flavor that finishes with a bit of bubble gum. Bred by Jerry Lehman. Low seed to fruit percentage. Fruit is medium to large.

Grafted PawPaw- Nyomi’s Delicious

Nyomi’s Delicious was found by Cliff England near Berea in Miss Nyomi’s yard near the road in East Kentucky. The fruit ripens early and changes from green to yellow when ripe. The fruit is large and the flavor is clean with no aftertaste.

Grafted PawPaw- Overleese

Grafted PawPaw- Sunflower

Sunflower PawPaw is a Kansas variety chosen for large fruit with few seeds. Reported to be self
fertile. Sunflower has yellow skin and a clean yellow flesh when ripe in mid to late September.

Grafted PawPaw Tropical Treat

Tropical Treat is a late season PawPaw with a very nice blend of mango and Banana. Selected by Woody Walker in Kentucky. This will need to be grown in more southern areas because of the late ripening date.