Note: More pawpaws will be available soon. Contact us to be added to the waitlist and sign up for our newsletter to be notified when 2026 preorders open this fall.
Since our pawpaw seedlings are grown from seed, they are each unique genetically and suitable pollinators for all other pawpaws - named cultivars and other seedlings. Our pawpaw seedlings are not grafted - they are on their own rootstock.
Pawpaws are highly prized fruit trees. Often called a “tropical fruit for the north,” pawpaws produce clusters of large, nutritious fruit 3–6 inches long with a custard-like texture and a flavour that’s been compared to mango, banana, pineapple, and even vanilla custard.
Unlike most tropical relatives in the custard apple family, pawpaws are uniquely cold-hardy (-25ºC), thriving in Zones 5–8 and capable of handling Canadian winters in many regions. Pawpaws are native to North American, including areas as far north as southern Ontario.
In nature, young pawpaw trees grow in the dappled shade of forest understories, gradually reaching into more sunlight as they mature. To mimic this, it’s best to provide shade for the tree's first 1-2 years—whether by planting behind a fence, under light tree cover, or using a temporary shade screen.
Most pawpaws require cross pollination with a different pawpaw cultivar, or a seed-grown pawpaw. Seed-grown pawpaws are all genetically unique, so you can have two seedlings pollinate each other, or one seedling and one cultivar, or two cultivars. Named cultivars are grafted and selected for their exceptional fruit quality and yield. With seed-grown pawpaws, fruit quality can vary widely.
With an ever-expanding, cult-like following, pawpaws reward growers with one of the rarest and most delicious fruits you can grow in a northern garden.
Common names: Pawpaw, Paw Paw, Pawpaw Seedling, Seed-grown Pawpaw
Edible: Fruit
Harvest timing: Fall
Scientific name: Asimina triloba
Light requirements: Shade the first 1-2 years, then full sun (6+ hours) the rest of its life
Full-grown size: 15-25' tall x 12-20' wide, with a natural pyramidal shape requiring very little pruning.
Hardiness: Zone 5
Pollination: Requires cross-pollination with a different named pawpaw cultivar or a seed-grown pawpaw.
Wildlife: Deer resistant leaves; fruit is attractive to wildlife.
Origin: Native to eastern North America.
Noteworthy: You will probably never taste one unless you grow one! The fruit bruises easily so they are not shipped to grocery stores.
