Paw Paw

Orders placed now are for Spring 2025 shipment

Spring trees are bare root and shipped dormant. These orders will ship at the proper time for planting in your region from Dec-May. See our Shipping Date Map to see when orders will ship to your state. 

Paw Paw

Paw Paw trees are a small tree that can have a big impact on habitat quality. They produce very attractive large fruits that are full of nutrients for wildlife and humans alike. The fruit has a wonderful taste making it extremely attractive especially for deer. Fruit production begins at an early age, usually just 4-8yrs. Pawpaw foliage has a strong taste and smell when crushed making it naturally deer resistant. This makes these trees easy on your wallet and easy on your schedule as they require no cages or protection from browse.

Surprisingly, despite their fruit being so attractive to deer, pawpaw foliage is repulsive to deer. Crushed paw paw leaves have a strong smell best described as a mix of bell pepper and diesel fuel, not exactly tasty. This natural defense makes paw paw trees very deer resistant, and ensures they have virtually no pest issues either. They need no fencing or other protection from deer. This makes them versatile and saves you money and hassle. Paw paws are small trees, similarly sized to dogwoods or other understory trees so they have to be naturally deer resistant as their small size puts them directly in reach of hungry deer. Paw paws are our only tree that we do not recommend protecting form browsing.

Paw Paws produce the largest fruit of any native North American fruit tree, a 3-8in long soft green fruit that ripens in early fall. They have a great flavor, similar to a strong banana with hints of mango, pineapple, and vanilla. When they are dropping you can bet on finding concentrations of deer, raccoons, opossums, and nearly every other omnivore in the forest, mopping up these large tasty fruits. They are high in minerals such as calcium, magnesium, manganese, vitamin C, niacin, iron, and phosphorus that can aid in antler growth, bone development in fawns, and support healthy lactation in mothers in the spring. Paw paws provide nutrients that other food sources just can't match. In fact, scientists are even researching anti-cancer qualities in paw paws in humans.

Paw paws are a truly remarkable native tree that just don't get the publicity they deserve. Every landowner should consider adding paw paws. They provide great wildlife attraction, a great source of fruit production for human consumption, and if for nothing else, we think they're downright cool trees for all the unique qualities they have. 

You must protect your trees with one of our Tree Tubes to be covered under our Survival Guarantee. Please read the full details here

Drop time: Sept-Nov

Years till production: 4-8 yrs

Growing zones: 4-9

Soil type: Fertile moist soils preferred, can tolerate more shade and moisture than most

pH: 5.5-7.0

Sun: Partial shade preferred. 75-50% sunlight per day is optimum

Pollination: Needs at least 2 trees for pollination 

Size when shipped: 1 year old 12-36in