Georgia Wildlife Federation

At least two species of pawpaws occur along the Alcovy River system from the headwaters in north Gwinnett County, south to Lake Jackson. The small-flowered pawpaw, Asimina parviflora, is especially prevalent. The other, Asimina triloba, is also common. While the Muskogeans valued the pawpaw enough to name a river for this native understory tree, many, if not most, of today's Georgians would not even recognize the tree or the delicious fruit which it produces. Certainly, DeSoto's team of conquistadors were impressed by this temperate species of an otherwise tropical family. Later, in the 18th century, William Bartram described the fruit as "having a very delicious yellow pulp."

The pawpaw does not yield merchantable timber. However, the fibrous inner bark was used by Native Americans to string fish and repair fish nets. It was also woven into cloth. The pawpaw was first documented in 1557 by a Portuguese narrator, traveling with DeSoto during his expedition in the Mississippi valley in 1541.

Pawpaw belongs to the Annonaceae, or Custard Apple Family. It is the only temperate member of a tropical family which includes such delicious fruits as cherimoya, sweetsop and soursop. With a flavor comparable to bananas or mangoes, the pawpaw can be eaten fresh, preserved in jelly, or as an ingredient in ice cream or pudding. According to Horticulture, "worldwide connoisseurs chose the fruit as one of the six most delicious in the world."

Development of pawpaw as a commercial crop was interrupted (and postponed for 70 years) by World War II, and breeding lines were lost. Today, with growing interest in exotic fruits, attempts have been made to grow the pawpaw commercially, with some success. In 1990, Dr. Brett Callaway, a researcher at Kentucky State University, held a nationwide contest in hopes of finding the "best" pawpaws. He asked individuals to send three to five fruits from trees they felt produced superior fruit. (The flesh of the pawpaw may be white or orange. Orange flesh is considered tastier.) The fruit was judged on size, color and flavor. Seventy five people from 15 states entered over 430 pawpaws. Many of the entries were considered good enough to market. The fruit declared "the winner" weighed nearly a pound!

The pawpaw is eaten by many species of wildlife. Opossums, raccoons, fox, squirrels, and many birds relish this wild fruit. Also, the pawpaw is the host plant for the Zebra Swallowtail, which lays its eggs on the underside of a leaf so that the developing larvae will have an immediate food supply.

The pawpaw resembles a deciduous magnolia, although its bold, lance-shaped leaves droop toward the ground. When crushed, the leaves have a pungent odor reminiscent of bell pepper. Two-inch wine-colored flowers appear briefly in spring just as the leaves are developing. The fruits, which ripen in the fall and range in length from 2 to 4 inches, are the largest edible fruit from any native North American tree.

Pawpaw has ornamental qualities as well. Its small size and attractive cone shape make it suitable for the small, residential landscape. In its native habitat, as an understory species, Asimina triloba is usually 8 to 10 feet tall, and will sucker, forming loose colonies. However, if grown in the open, in a sunny location, the tree will develop a single trunk, often reaching 25 feet. Fruit production is also better. Fall color, which is usually a soft, butter-yellow, can be outstanding. The tree is virtually disease and pest-free and, therefore, appropriate for the environmentally sensitive homeowner.

Some of the most exciting research on pawpaws concerns its value in cancer treatment and as a natural pesticide. In 1982, Rupprecht, et al, identified an alkaloid called asimicin, found in the bark of the pawpaw, which has pesticidal properties. In today's world with concerns about the use of chemicals for pest control and about the health of the planet, the possibilities for the use of pawpaw as a safe, natural insecticide are exciting.

As early as 1884, in Drugs and Medicines of North America, Lloyd and Lloyd documented the medicinal values of pawpaw seed extracts, which they called Asiminine. In 1991, Jerry McLaughlin, a professor of pharmacognosy at Purdue University, developed a test which isolated an anti-cancer drug which occurs in the twigs and small branches.