•Status in Florida: Native
•Size at Maturity: Typically grows 15 to 30 feet tall, with a spread of 10 to 15 feet.
•Phenology: Common Pawpaw is a deciduous tree with large, elliptical leaves and maroon to purple flowers that appear in spring before the leaves emerge. It produces oblong, greenish-yellow fruits with a custard-like texture and sweet flavor.
•Life Cycle: Perennial
•Bloom Season: Common Pawpaw typically blooms in early spring, before the leaves emerge.
•Deciduous, Dioecious, Evergreen: Deciduous
•Sunlight Requirements: Partial shade to full sun
•Soil Texture: Moist, well-drained sandy or loamy soils
•Soil pH: Tolerant of a wide range of soil pH levels, but prefers slightly acidic to neutral soils (pH 5.5-7.0)
•Moisture Requirements: Common Pawpaw prefers consistently moist soil and can tolerate periodic flooding.
•Tolerance to Salt Spray: Low tolerance
•Recommended Landscape Uses: Suitable for naturalistic landscapes, woodland gardens, and edible landscapes. Provides habitat and food for wildlife and adds ornamental value with its unique foliage and flowers.
•Maintenance Tips: Common Pawpaw is relatively low-maintenance but may benefit from occasional pruning to remove dead or diseased branches and maintain shape. Pruning is best done in late winter to early spring.
•Considerations: Common Pawpaw may sucker and form colonies in favorable growing conditions. Consider planting in areas where naturalization is desired or be prepared to manage spreading if necessary.
•Edible: Common Pawpaw fruits are edible and have a custard-like texture and sweet flavor. They are highly valued for fresh eating and can be used in various culinary applications.
•Medicinal Uses: Common Pawpaw has limited documented medicinal uses, but some indigenous cultures used certain parts of the tree for various ailments.
•Toxicity to Pets: Common Pawpaw fruits are not known to be toxic to pets.
•Florida Native Companion Plant: Common Pawpaw pairs well with other native trees and shrubs, such as American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) and elderberry (Sambucus nigra subsp. canadensis).
•Wildlife Benefit: Common Pawpaw provides habitat and food for a variety of wildlife species, including birds, butterflies, and small mammals. The flowers attract pollinators, while the fruits are consumed by wildlife.
•Caterpillar Host Plant: Common Pawpaw is a host plant for the larvae of several swallowtail butterfly species, including the Zebra Swallowtail (Eurytides marcellus) and the Pawpaw Sphinx Moth (Dolba hyloeus).
