Native plants enrich ecosystems and sustain life. Their fruits, nuts, seeds, and nectar provide sustenance. Their branches offer shelter and a place to raise young. Forrest Keeling has a wide selection of Specialty Crops. The Farm Bill defies these crops as “fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture).” These are plants managed and used by people for food, medicinal purposes, or aesthetic benefits.
This article focuses on the pawpaw (Asimina triloba), a native, fruit-bearing native tree.
About the Pawpaw
The pawpaw is an understory tree, found in deciduous woodlands and woodland openings. The tree belongs to a tropical family of plants. Only two species of trees from this family that occur in North America. They are easy to identify with their leaves and large fruits. In fact, it produces the largest edible fruit native to North America. The pawpaw is the only member of the family native to Missouri. Its natural range is Missouri and east Texas to Pennsylvania and south to South Carolina.
Its fruits are also known as “poor man’s banana,” “American custard apple,” and “Missouri banana,” and is packed with nutrition and has a yellow-orange, buttery flesh has a tropical flavor. Some describe the flavor as a combination of banana, mango, and melon. and the fruit is delicious raw or incorporated into various culinary creations. Many people eat the sweet-flavored pawpaw fruit raw, with ice cream, or cooked in pies or custard.
Cultivating pawpaw for fruit requires two unrelated trees for cross-pollination to set fruit. In fall, pawpaw trees provide brilliant yellow foliage.
Pawpaw is a versatile tree, useful in a variety of landscapes. It thrives in a wide range of soil conditions and can adapt to both sun and shade. Its adaptable nature makes it an excellent choice for reforestation efforts.
Pawpaw and Wildlife
Planting these trees helps foster biodiversity and support wildlife. Its flowers are a valuable nectar source for pollinators. Pawpaw fruit serves as food for various wildlife, including birds and small mammals.
Pawpaw Medicinal Uses
Beyond its ecological benefits, the pawpaw offers homeopathic properties. Native Americans used various parts of the plant to treat diverse ailments. These treatments helped reduce fever, stomachaches, and lice infestations.
In recent years, scientific research has shed light on the its potential as a source of bioactive compounds, some of which have anticancer and antiviral properties.
Environmental Remediation and Restoration
Pawpaw grows well in diverse environments and is resistant to pests and diseases. Pawpaw trees are particularly beneficial in riparian zones (the interface between land and
a river or stream). Its roots help with erosion control, making it ideal for wetland remediation projects.
Discover Native Specialty Crops at Forrest Keeling
Forrest Keeling grows a vast inventory of native plants and other specialty crops. We take pride in providing clients with the highest-quality natives in the industry. Our patented RPM production technique adds unsurpassed survivability and performance, even on difficult sites.
For more information on specialty crops, download our Specialty Crop booklet.
Forrest Keeling… where the best trees begin!