Virginia Tech Dendrology

pawpaw Annonaceae Asimina triloba (L.) Dunal symbol: ASTR
Leaf: Alternate, simple, obovate to oblong, 5 to 11 inches long, 2 to 3 inches wide, green above and below. Green pepper odor when crushed.
Flower: Species is monoecious; purplish-brown, broad bell shape, 6 petals, 1 to 1 1/2 inch across; appearing with or slightly before the leaves.
Fruit: Very unique in that they resemble a short, fat banana, 2 1/2 to 4 inches long, at first green then tuning yellowish then brown as they ripen in the fall; very fleshy and tastes much like a banana.
Twig: Moderately stout, red-brown; buds purplish brown, fuzzy, naked bud which is flattened and often curved, terminal bud 1/4 to 1/2 inch long.
Bark: Smooth, brown, splotched with wart-like lenticels, often with light gray patches.
Form: A small tree up to 40 feet tall, 12 inches in diameter, often found in growing in small clusters.
Looks like: dwarf pawpaw - cucumbertree - umbrella magnolia

Additional Range Information: Asimina triloba is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
More Information: Fall Color
External Links: USDAFS FEIS Silvics - USDA Plants Database - Horticulture Information
All material 2021 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information