Interview with Pawpaw

Hi Pawpaw! As an ice breaker, can you tell me a fun fact about yourself? 

Oh where to begin? Well, how about that I am a tropical plant yet I grow all over chilly North America. I have long leaves with drip tips which are typical for rainforest plants but not so much in the other native trees I grow next to here.

That is weird, I love it! Wait how does a tropical tree exist here?!

Well, go back in time with me, let’s go back before Europeans arrived, even before indigenous people: the land and climate was very different. It was a lot warmer and the animals who lived here were very different. North America was home to megafauna, LARGE animals, like the giant sloth. Oh how I miss them! These animals loved my fruit and would spread my seeds around all over the place. Of course they eventually disappeared and the weather cooled but I was able to adapt but kept on to some of my tropical traits. 

Without the sloths, how did you spread?

After the megafauna came raccoons and humans! They loved me too! Humans eat me, cultivate me, and trade me across the United States and Canada. I am eaten by a variety of Indigenous Peoples across the USA, including the Lenni Lenape right here in Bucks County. 

What do Lenni Lenape call you?

They know me as ‘mahchikpi’. I have many indigenous names. I began going by ‘pawpaw’ once the Europeans arrived, because of my superficial resemblance to the South American fruit, papaya – Europeans aren’t very creative. The Indigenous People use my bark for ropes, fishing nets, and mats – and of course they eat me! Raw and even baked into cakes and cornbread!

I’ve heard of pawpaw cake and ice cream but not cornbread. You have such an interesting flavor and texture.

I absolutely do! I have a very soft, custardy texture and people describe me as a cross of banana, mango, maybe citrus? I am my own thing! I am a rich source of vitamin C, magnesium, iron, and manganese so you can feel good about eating me.

Yum! How can we plant more of you?

That is a great idea – continue in the giant sloth’s footprints and help spread me! You can purchase saplings from local nurseries or even just toss out my old fruit and seeds into the woods. I am notorious for colonizing compost piles. Although common advice says to plant me in wet locations, I can tolerate a variety of conditions and do fruit best in full sun, says Hundred Fruit Farm.

If you do plant me, make sure to plant a few, I can not pollinate myself (unless you want to manually do it) so need a partner or two. I am rather slow growing, it can take up to 7 years before I start to bear fruit. I have very few pests and even deer don’t like me! My main pollinators are flies and beetles so keep me close together, they aren’t the best at traveling distances.

Speaking of pollinators, do you host any special species?

Here in Bucks County, I am the only host plant for beautiful zebra swallowtail butterfly. Many animals like squirrels, raccoons and birds all enjoy my fruits. I am a great food source as the seasons change and there is less food available.  

I really want to try you! How can I eat pawpaws?

I am a bit tricky, because I have never been domesticated, I’d rather not be honestly. My fruits ripen rather quickly. You can find me at local farmers markets in September and early October…  if you get your timing right! Growing me in your backyard is a great way to make sure you eat a ripe pawpaw!