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Common Pawpaw

Asimina triloba

In the Carolinas and Georgia, found in alluvial forests, other moist, nutrient-rich forests. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition What its natural habitat tells you

55
Strong

Native to Arkansas. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 100%

Height
15–30 feet
Spread
15–30 feet
Light
Deep shade, Full sun, Partial shade
Soil moisture
Usually moist

Space about 22.5 ft apart from its recorded spread. Enter your bed size for a count

Will it fit your yard?

At a glance

Life cycle
Woody perennial
Leaves
Deciduous
Bloom
March to May
Fruiting season
August to October

Recorded in 64 Arkansas counties.

Natural habitats

Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

1 of 2

Floodplain and bottomland forests

Forests on low ground beside rivers and streams that flood from time to time.

Forests and woodlands

Forest or woodland where the source does not say how moist or dry.

All habitats

Also found with this plant

Wildlife whose habitat models include habitats this plant grows in, in Arkansas. Shared habitat, not food. 68 animals.

Widespread birds also seen here (81)

Found in many habitats here, so not listed above.

All wildlife of Arkansas

Care

  • Avoid permanently wet soil.
Care sources
Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

14CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including AR

Genus host records with ranges including AR · Asimina

  • Eurytides marcellusZebra Swallowtail
  • Acharia stimuleaSaddleback Caterpillar Moth
  • Adoneta spinuloidesPurple-Crested Slug
  • Agrius cingulataPink-Spotted Hawkmoth, Sweet Potatoe Caterpillar
  • Apatelodes torrefactaSpotted Apatelodes
  • Choristoneura obsoletanaObsolete Leafroller
  • Dolba hyloeusPawpaw Sphinx
  • Epimecis hortariaTulip-Tree Beauty
  • Hyphantria cuneaFall Webworm
  • Omphalocera cariosaMoonseed Webworm
Show all 14
  • Omphalocera munroeiAsimina Webworm
  • Orgyia leucostigmaWhite-Marked Tussock Moth
  • Parasa indeterminaStinging Rose Caterpillar Moth, Rose Slug Caterpillar
  • Prolimacodes badiaSkiff Moth, Skiff Caterpillar
Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
3BeesSoutheastern regional records

Southeastern regional records · Asimina

Individual names are not available yet.

Noori, Seltmann & Orr 2026, A curated and integrated dataset for exploring global bee-plant interactions (GloBI), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0
0Specialist beesPollen specialists
—BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

No records yet · Ants · Beetles · Flies · Adult butterflies / moths · Other wasps · Other insects

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family
Annonaceae
Hardiness
Zones 5a–9b
Soil pH
Acidic
Flower color
Brown/copper, purple or red
Growth rate
Slow
Growth habit
Single stem
Foliage color
Dark green
Fruit begins
August
Fruit ends
October

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope
Also known as

Pawpaw

Conservation status

Arkansas rankSNR
Global rankG5
AR statusNot verified
Federal statusNot verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

In your garden

Will it fit your yard?

Check this plant against your county, sun and soil moisture. Conditions are checked in your browser.

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How to check your spot

Growing cautions

For planning only; these do not change the score or Fit.

Sources