Pawpaws are "tropical" fruit trees that don't mind a hard freeze. These trees belong to the family Annonaceae, an otherwise completely tropical group of trees and shrubs that includes several important tropical fruits such as soursop and cherimoya. Like their tropical relatives, pawpaws produce a rich, sweet and tangy fruit that tastes like something you would find growing in the rainforest, but will grow as far north as southern Canada!
Be sure not to confuse pawpaw with papaya, which is sometimes also called pawpaw in certain regions. They are completely different fruits.
The genus Asimina contains about a dozen species, many found only in Florida. To my knowledge, only the widespread A. triloba is found in cultivation. This species prefers moist, partly-shaded conditions, but in the right spot can be successful in producing fruit in Sacramento. While not the easiest tree to grow, I've chosen to include them because they are truly delicious and poorly known in this area.
Be sure not to confuse pawpaw with papaya, which is sometimes also called pawpaw in certain regions. They are completely different fruits.
The genus Asimina contains about a dozen species, many found only in Florida. To my knowledge, only the widespread A. triloba is found in cultivation. This species prefers moist, partly-shaded conditions, but in the right spot can be successful in producing fruit in Sacramento. While not the easiest tree to grow, I've chosen to include them because they are truly delicious and poorly known in this area.