By Andrew Bunting, PHS Vice President of Horticulture
The interest in growing native plants is perhaps at an all-time high. Many home gardeners are conscious of the need for everyone to “do their part” in creating habitats by making changes to their garden that enhance ecological functions. Also, very popular in home gardens is growing fruit trees. Backyard fruit growing can be done on relatively small properties in Philadelphia and its suburbs. The Philadelphia Orchard Project is a great advocate for fruit growing.
One of the most popular native fruits is the pawpaw, Asimina triloba. This medium-sized tree is an understory plant often found in low areas of native deciduous woods across most of the Eastern United States. It grows stoloniferously (via underground stems), often forming large colonies. In cultivation, it will thrive in full sun and will flower and fruit better. In the spring, curious flowers emerge with six overlapping burgundy petals. The flower is pendant and bell-shaped. The flowers have evolved to resemble the color of rotting flesh, thereby attracting flies that facilitate pollination. More than one cultivar or genetic selection is needed for cross-pollination. Short, banana-like fruits form from June through August. Some exceptional cultivars include ‘Potomac’ with sweet fruits, ‘Shenandoah’ with a banana-like flavor, and ‘PA Golden’, a high-yielding cultivar.
