Plant Details

Asimina triloba

Papaw

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Common names

38 names · 23 languages
EnglishYour language
  • American paw paw[2]
  • bandango[2]
  • common paw paw[2]
+9 more namesShow fewer names
Other languages (22)
Dutch
  • Pawpaw[2]
  • roomappel
French
  • Asiminier trilobé[2]
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Choctaw
Czech
  • muďoul trojlaločný[2]
Danish
Finnish
  • metsäpapavi[2]
German
  • Dreilappige Papau[2]
  • Indianerbanane[2]
  • Pawpaw[2]
Italian
  • Banano del nord[2]
Japanese
  • アケビガキ[2]
  • ポポー[2]
Lithuanian
  • Triskiautė azimina[2]
Miami
  • mihsiimišaahkwi[2]
Polish
  • asymina trójklapowa[2]
Portuguese
Russian
  • Азимина трёхлопастная[2]
Slovak
  • asimina ovocná[2]
Spanish
  • chirimoyo de la Florida[2]
Tunica
Turkish
  • Bayağı Papav[2]
Ukrainian
  • Азиміна трилопатева[2]
Language not specified
Sources & name notes (2)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Asimina triloba (L.) Dunal ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Pawpaw — VernacularName.tsv, line 160632; taxon 67TV7.
[2] Asimina triloba — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • common pawpaw — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 50897; Asimina triloba.
  • Banano del nord — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 50897; Asimina triloba.
  • common paw paw — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 50897; Asimina triloba.
  • pawpaw — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 50897; Asimina triloba.
  • paw paw — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 50897; Asimina triloba.
  • paw-paw — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 50897; Asimina triloba.
  • papaw — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 50897; Asimina triloba.
  • Pawpaw — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 50897; Asimina triloba.
  • Indiana banana — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 50897; Asimina triloba.
  • fetid-bush — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 50897; Asimina triloba.
  • bandango — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 50897; Asimina triloba.
  • muďoul trojlaločný — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 50897; Asimina triloba.
  • ポポー — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 50897; Asimina triloba.
  • chirimoyo de la Florida — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 50897; Asimina triloba.
  • アケビガキ — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 50897; Asimina triloba.
  • 泡泡树 — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 50897; Asimina triloba.
  • 泡泡樹 — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 50897; Asimina triloba.
  • Umbi — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 50897; Asimina triloba.
  • Yukula — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 50897; Asimina triloba.
  • Азимина трёхлопастная — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 50897; Asimina triloba.
  • asiminier trilobé — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 50897; Asimina triloba.
  • Pawpaw — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 50897; Asimina triloba.
  • custard apple — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 50897; Asimina triloba.
  • false-banana — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 50897; Asimina triloba.
  • mihsiimišaahkwi — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 50897; Asimina triloba.
  • asymina trójklapowa — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 50897; Asimina triloba.
  • Triskiautė azimina — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 50897; Asimina triloba.
  • Pawpaw — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 50897; Asimina triloba.
  • Dreilappige Papau — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 50897; Asimina triloba.
  • Indianerbanane — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 50897; Asimina triloba.
  • Pawpaw — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 50897; Asimina triloba.
  • American paw paw — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 50897; Asimina triloba.
  • metsäpapavi — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 50897; Asimina triloba.
  • asimina ovocná — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 50897; Asimina triloba.
  • Азиміна трилопатева — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 50897; Asimina triloba.
  • Bayağı Papav — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 50897; Asimina triloba.

General information

Scientific name: Asimina triloba
Accepted name (Kew): Asimina triloba (L.) Dunal View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [5] [6]
Botanical family: Annonaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Asimina (WCVP v16).

Sources [5]
Also known as: Papaw
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Fruit tree
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 4.57–9.14 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [1]
Spread: 4.57–9.14 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [1]
Growth rate: Moderate
Sources [1]
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [1]
Growth habit: Pyramidal

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [1]
Life cycle: Perennial
Sources [1]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [1]
Soil moisture:
Moist, Well-drained

Preferred growing conditions. Moisture and drainage are different properties; well-drained soil is not necessarily dry.

Sources [2] [1]
Soil:
Loam (medium)
pH:
Acid (<6.0)
Sources [1]
Light:
Partial shade, Full sun

Young seedlings need shade; established trees crop best in sun.

Sources [2] [4]

Uses

Edible parts:
Fruit
Edibility rating:
(4)
Medicinal rating:
(2)
Functions:
Dye, Fibre, Insecticide, Parasiticide, Wood

Description

Asimina triloba is a deciduous fruit tree. Ripe fruits have soft, custard-like flesh and skin that is green to yellow and may darken after harvest. Only the ripe pulp is described here as food; remove the skin and seeds. Underripe fruit can cause gastrointestinal distress, and even ripe fruit can cause stomach or skin irritation in some people. Harvest timing varies with region and cultivar. For cultivation, provide moist, well-drained soil; established trees crop best in sun, while young seedlings need shade.

Sources [1] [2] [3] [4]

Harvest

Harvest starts: 15/09
Harvest ends: 31/10

Crown

Crown shape: Broad pyramidal
Crown density: Dense crown

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. North Carolina State University Asimina triloba (Common Pawpaw, Pawpaw) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: DescriptionSoil moistureHeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLife cycleSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Description: Description; Whole Plant Traits; Edibility; Poison Symptoms and Toxic Principle, where applicable
    • Soil moisture: Cultural Conditions: Soil Drainage
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .

  2. Kentucky State University Cooperative Extension Program Pawpaw Planting Guide
    Supports: DescriptionLightSoil moisture
    Relevant sections
    • Description: Soil requirements and shade requirements of young seedlings
    • Light: Soil requirements and shade requirements of young seedlings
    • Soil moisture: Soil requirements and shade requirements of young seedlings

    Source checked on .

  3. Kentucky State University Cooperative Extension Program Pawpaw Description and Nutritional Information
    Supports: Description
    Relevant sections
    • Description: Fruit description and nutritional information

    Source checked on .

  4. Alabama Cooperative Extension System Pawpaw Production Guide
    Supports: DescriptionLight
    Relevant sections
    • Description: Site selection, harvest and fruit handling sections
    • Light: Site selection, harvest and fruit handling sections

    Source checked on .

  5. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 723450; name ID 2655401; Asimina Adans.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1315860; name ID 2655435; Asimina triloba (L.) Dunal.

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  6. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Asimina triloba

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 1982106, ID 67TV7: Asimina triloba (L.) Dunal (accepted).

    Source checked on .