The Native Pawpaw Tree: A Fascinating Flora Fighter
- Lauren Imhof
- 17 hours ago
- 2 min read
The Pawpaw tree is the largest fruit tree native to North America. The fruit is a small custard-like delight, tasting of a combination of banana, mango, and pineapple, which ripens in late August through September in Maryland. A Native American staple, the fruit of this tree is engrained in North America’s history. If you’re like me, you may be wondering: why? What about pawpaws sets it apart from other native fruit trees like American plums or black cherries?
The answer lies in pollination as pawpaws are notoriously difficult to pollinate. Naturally self-infertile, these trees need to cross pollinate with a genetically different pawpaw to regularly produce fruit. Rooted in rich, well-drained soil, pawpaws quickly grow suckers that easily create dense tree clusters from the same genetic pool, which cannot fertilize each other. In human controlled environments, this problem is easy to fix. We can plant trees of different varieties and cut suckers early, but this still leaves a pollinator problem.
The wine burgundy pawpaw flower is striking, but don’t get too close! Their fetid odor repels both animals who may try to eat the plant and the classic pollinators we love like bees. Flies and beetles are left to pick up the pollinator slack. However, even these insects may forgo the flowers, shown by pollination difficulties in attempted commercial pawpaw production. Some small growers hang up roadkill to attract more of these unexpected pollinators to their trees. Hand pollination is another strategy to get healthy fruit production.
Even through these pollination challenges, pawpaws are essential to the East Coast’s ecosystem. They are the sole host plant for Zebra Swallowtails. As the caterpillars eat the leaves, they ingest repellent compounds called acetogenins, making themselves unpalatable to predators. The tree’s root systems also protect stream banks they grow along. They prevent erosion and filter runoff that would otherwise pollute the Chesapeake Bay.
Pawpaw trees are unique flora fighters, preserving American culture and ecosystems. Once grown, there are many ways to enjoy the fruits of their labor. Many locals enjoy them fresh from the tree, and use their purees and preserves in ice cream, baked goods, and even cocktails! While their growing season in Maryland is finished, next summer give these American icons a try!
