What is a Paw-Paw?
Paw-Paw trees are of extreme interest to visitors exploring the Dismal Swamp State Park’s many recreational trails. They are the largest edible fruit trees native to North America, especially the temperate climates of southeastern United States. The paw-paw tree is a favorite due to its dark green foliage, tropical appearance and abundant fruit.
Paw-paw trees produce large, edible, green fruits, which ripen in late summer and peak in September and October. Fruit is ripe and ready for the tasting when the flesh is soft with a slight give. The flavor of the fruit is often compared to bananas, but with hints of mango, vanilla, and citrus. This fragrant fruit has a short shelf life so enjoy them on the spot or puree them and add it to a smoothie, ice cream or pie.
Growing in clusters on the tree, paw-paw fruit looks like a small green potato. These deer resistant trees rely on flies and beetles for pollination. Paw-paw’s are self-incompatible, which means that pollen produced on a plant cannot pollinate flowers on the same plant. To product fruit, a paw-paw flower must receive pollen from flowers on another tree, which could be some distance away.
Humans are not the only ones to enjoy the delicious taste of paw-paw fruit. Opossums, foxes, squirrels, raccoons, black bears and birds are all known to snack on this low maintenance tree. Paw-Paw trees are also the one and only host plant for the gorgeous zebra swallowtail butterfly. A kaleidoscope of zebra swallowtails or “paw-paw” butterflies can be found at the Dismal Swamp annually due to the abundance of these trees growing within the swamp.
Consider including a few of these tropical looking trees in your landscape designs and enjoy watching the zebra swallowtails flutter around your yard!
Sources: www.nps.gov/articles/pawpaw.htm