Article 19675 of rec.gardens:
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From: pharvey@quack.kfu.com (Paul Harvey)
Subject: the hardy cherimoya [Asimina triloba] was Hardy Fruit
Message-ID: <f5K1K0g@quack.kfu.com>
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References: <1993Jun30.144859.29210@bnr.ca> <C9JIyv.Mwu@cbfsb.cb.att.com> 
	<f5y4X2p@quack.kfu.com> <93187.134621U14371@uicvm.uic.edu>
Date: 10 Jul 1993 22:36:05 UTC
Lines: 84

In article <93187.134621U14371@uicvm.uic.edu> <U14371@uicvm.uic.edu> writes:
>pharvey@quack.kfu.com (Paul Harvey)in reply to
>djd@cbnewsg.cb.att.com (David J. Daulton)'s request for information about
>edible landscapes, suggests you can't get more American than Paw Paw [Asimina
>triloba].
> A quick note to those who aren't in N.A., there are several different 'Paw
>Paw's.

There are a number of Asimina. Listed in Cornucopia:
A. grandiflora - Florida pawpaw
A. obovata - A. grandiflora
A. parviflora - dwarf pawpaw
A. triloba - pawpaw, Michigan banana, false banana
	cultivars: Davis, Mary Foos Johnson, Mitchell, Overleese, Rebecca's
	Gold, Sunflower, Sweet Alice, Taylor, Taytwo, Zimmerman

>I have seen Paw Paws growing well in both sun and shade, mostly in and
>around small clearings in forest cover. It apparently comes with either male or
>female flowering trees, thus you need at least two trees to get fruit.  (Some-
>one who understands this better might clarify.)

Sex in the Annonaceae family is a bit unusual, as anyone who has ever
pollinated true cherimoya will tell you, but one tree can set fruit,
however cross pollination amongst different cultivars yields higher
fruit set.

>Also, the fruit doesn't last
>too long, hence it isn't generally commercially viable.

People are working on the commercial potential.

>The leaves of a mature
>tree can be quite large. Finally, the range in which it grows may be limited,
>so check it out.

The tree is quite hardy, but fruit development requires about 150 days
of frost free, which limits fruit to about USDA Zone 5 or Michigan. The
pawpaw is native to Michigan and much of the commercial development is
occuring there. In the eastern US, the pawpaw appears limited to about
USDA Zone 8 because the high heat and humidity of further south causes
various problems, but there is potential as many Asimina species are
native to Florida. Pawpaw are good anywhere on the West Coast of the US,
though S. Calif may not get sufficient winter chill and people down
there should be growing the true cherimoya anyway. There is a great deal
of genetic potential in the Asimina genus.

More info:

Uncommon Fruits Worthy of Attention, Lee Reich, ISBN:0-201-52381-7,
  lists Pawpaw, Gooseberry, Nanking Cherry, Medlar, Juneberry, Maypop,
  Kaki and American Persimmons, Raisin Tree, Black Current, Elaeagnus,
  Actinidia, Jujube, Apline and Musk Strawberries, Currants Red and
  White, Mulberry, Lowbush Bluebeery, Asian Pear, Jostaberry, Cornelian
  Cherry.
NAFEX, N. American Fruit Explorers, Jill Vorbeck, RR1, Box 94, Chapin
  IL, 62628, (217) 245-7589, Pawpaw Group: M. Brett Callaway, Atwood
  Research Facility, Kentucky State University, Frankfort KY, 40601,
  (502) 227-7291
Cornucopia, sourcebook of edible plants, Stephen Facciola, ISBN:0-9628087-0-9

There is also a Pawpaw lobby in Washington DC that seeks to promote
Pawpaw research and development for commercial growers.

"And sich pop-paws! - Lumps o' raw Gold and green, -jes' oozy th'ough
With ripe yaller - like you've saw Custard-pie with no crust on ..." -
James Whitcomb Riley, "Up and Down Old Brandywine"

"I stood in thickets, turned your flat seeds with my tongue, and sucked
the juices off those magic stones." - Norbert Krapf, "Paw Paw"

"the fruit is like unto peares riall: it hath verie good smell, and an
excellent taste." - Hernando de Soto, famous explorer

"the fruit is sold in large quantities in cities and towns in those
parts of the country where the tree grows naturally." - Charles Sprague
Sargent, first director of Harvard's Arnold Arboretum

"Four states - Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and West Virginia - even
have towns named Paw Paw."  - Uncommon Fruits ...

"the Beltway circling Washington, DC, went right through the collection
of David Fairchild [famous American botonist]" - Uncommon Fruits ...

As Marty Stouffer would say, "Enjoy our Wild America!"


