Nature & Nurture Select Pawpaw Seeds (Asimina triloba)
Large-fruited, northern-adapted seed source! Our Nature & Nurture Select Pawpaw seeds come from exceptionally flavorful, large-fruited trees that have consistently produced ripe fruit before the first fall frost in Michigan. These proven northern-grown parent trees offer promising genetics for growers in colder climates!
Also called the "Michigan Banana," Pawpaw produces North America's largest native edible tree fruit. This beautiful small tree bears delectable, tropical-tasting fruits in the fall. The flesh is creamy, light yellow, and custard-like, with a sweet flavor reminiscent of banana, mango, and vanilla.
We love to eat Pawpaws straight off the tree (don't eat the skin or seeds). They're also fabulous served with contrasting tart fruits such as fall red raspberries or currants. Pawpaw pulp can be preserved by freezing.
Pawpaw trees grow in full sun to part shade, although young seedlings benefit from shade during their first year or two. They're relatively deer-resistant (but protect young trees), can grow near black walnut trees, and thrive in USDA Zones 5–8. Plant at least two genetically different trees for cross-pollination and fruit production.
Pawpaw's native range extends across much of the eastern United States, from southern Michigan and Ontario south to the Gulf Coast. Michigan is home to some outstanding northern-adapted Pawpaw selections, prized for their large, delicious fruit and ability to ripen in our shorter growing season.
Our Nature & Nurture Select seeds come from some exceptional parent trees! We collect fruit from named cultivars including Overleese, Davis, Prolific, Sunflower, Sibley, and Lynn's Favorite, along with large-fruited trees descended from seeds given to us in 2002 by our fruit and nut mentor, Gordon Nofs of Flint, Michigan. Those seedlings went on to produce trees with large, exceptionally delicious fruit! All of our parent trees have consistently ripened fruit before frost in Michigan.
Because Pawpaws do not grow true to seed, individual seedlings will vary in fruit size, flavor, cold hardiness, and ripening time. Their northern-grown parentage makes these seeds especially interesting for growers seeking early-ripening, cold-hardy Pawpaws.
Pawpaws are listed on the Slow Food Ark of Taste.
SEEDS ONLY AVAILABLE IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER.
PLANT IN FALL (OCTOBER/NOVEMBER). Keep seeds moist until planting. Seeds require a period of cold, moist stratification to germinate. Do not allow seeds to dry out or freeze in storage.
Approximately 320 seeds per pound.
