Pawpaw Tree Seeds | Custard Apple | (Asimina triloba)
Pawpaw Tree Seeds | Custard Apple | (Asimina triloba)
The forgotten fruit. Worth remembering.
Asimina triloba, the Pawpaw, produces the largest native fruit in North America. Its rich, tropical flavor, often compared to banana and custard, comes from a cold-hardy tree that grows from the Great Lakes to the Gulf Coast. Once overlooked while imported fruits filled grocery shelves, Pawpaw is now making a strong comeback among food foresters, homesteaders, and anyone who has tasted one ripe off the tree. It is also one of the most wildlife-supportive native trees you can plant, serving as the sole larval host for the Zebra Swallowtail butterfly.
- Largest native fruit in North America with a tropical flavor profile
- Sole larval host plant for the Zebra Swallowtail butterfly
- Deep-rooted and shade-tolerant understory tree
- Deer-resistant foliage helps with establishment
- Spreads by root suckers to form productive clonal groves
Things You Probably Didn’t Know
Lewis and Clark relied on it.
During the 1806 expedition, the Corps of Discovery ran low on provisions and subsisted on Pawpaw fruit for several days. Lewis documented them in his journals, and George Washington was known to enjoy them chilled.
It’s tropical at its core.
Pawpaw is the only temperate member of the Annonaceae family, the same group as cherimoya and soursop. It is essentially a tropical fruit that adapted to survive North American winters.
You won’t find it in stores.
The fruit bruises easily and only lasts a few days after ripening, making it nearly impossible to ship commercially. Most people will only ever taste one by growing it themselves.
Deer leave it alone.
The leaves contain natural compounds called acetogenins that make them unpalatable to deer and most browsing animals, giving young trees a major advantage in the wild.
Growing Details
- Botanical Name: Asimina triloba
- Stratification: Required; 60–120 days cold moist stratification
- USDA Zones: 5–9
- Soil: Rich, well-drained, slightly acidic
- Light: Full sun to partial shade
- Height: 15–30 feet
- Spread: 15–25 feet
- Growth Rate: Slow to moderate
Plant in groups of two or more for cross-pollination. Patience rewarded with the most unique fruit you can grow from seed in North America.
FAQ
FAQ
Do you pre-stratify the seeds?
Most of our seeds are not pre-stratified. They are stored under dry, cold conditions to preserve viability without initiating stratification, allowing you to time germination for your local growing season.
The exception is recalcitrant seeds. Because these seeds must remain moist to stay viable, they are kept in moist, cold storage and are therefore in a pre-stratified state. Depending on how long a particular batch has been stored, some may arrive with an emerging radicle and be ready to plant immediately. Radicle development is not guaranteed.
Please refer to the individual product page and included growing instructions for species-specific requirements.
Do any of your seeds need to stay moist? (Recalcitrant seeds)
Yes. Some species we offer, including Chestnut, Hazelnut, and Paw Paw, are recalcitrant and must remain moist to stay viable.
Please refrigerate these seeds immediately upon arrival unless they have already developed a radicle. Seeds with an emerging radicle should be planted promptly.
Do you ship internationally?
No. We currently ship within the United States only.
We previously shipped to Canada, but tariffs, duties, and import fees resulted in customers receiving significant and unpredictable additional charges upon delivery. Because we cannot reliably calculate or absorb these costs, we have suspended shipping to Canada.
At this time, we do not ship to Canada or other international destinations.
Shipping & What's Included
Shipping & What's Included
Shipping & Packaging
• Hand-packed in resealable kraft paper seed bags
• Stratification and planting instructions included on every seed pack
• Ships within 3–5 business days via USPS within the United States and U.S. territories
Return Policy
Return Policy
Due to the nature of our products, we do not accept returns on seeds.
If your order arrives damaged, contains incorrect items, or is missing items, please contact us within 7 days of delivery so we can resolve the issue.
