![]() “The pawpaws as well as this native butterfly should be on our properties because they used to be here.” “We were, you know, trying to think of ways to improve the biodiversity of the properties that Bur Oak Land Trust owns and manages,” Taylor said. Photograph courtesy of Bur Oak Land Trust. Bur Oak will overwinter the seedlings while they’re dormant, and plant them in the spring. Starting March 12, people can foster a crate of nine potted pawpaw seeds for $30, and care for until the fall. As the pawpaw trees vanished behind cornfields, so too did species that depended on them, like the zebra swallowtail butterfly, whose caterpillars feed on the pawpaw leaves.īur Oak is holding its second annual Foster a Pawpaw project to bring back the pawpaws and butterflies. Once established, it is a low maintenance tree, resistant to disease and critters (unappetizing to deer, rabbits, goats, etc., though foxes, opossums, squirrels, and raccoons will eat the fruits).Pawpaws aren’t popular in grocery stores, since they have a short shelf life of two to three days at room temperature, or three weeks when refrigerated. Its foliage can be very attractive during autumn when it turns a brilliant yellow. of light per day).Īsimina triloba is fairly small, with a tropical look to it. If the seeds are field planted during autumn, they will come up mid-late summer the following year.Īsimina Triloba may be propagated from softwood cuttings if extra steps are taken (such as providing irregular misting, bottom heat of about 80☏ and 14hrs. When started in a greenhouse, germination should occur in about 7 weeks. The seed must be cold stratified (in a closed up zip-lock bag containing a small amount of damp sphagnum moss) for 90-120 days at 32-40☏. Pawpaw seeds should never be allowed to dry out after collecting. ![]() Propagating Pawpaw Tree, Seed or Cuttings Pawpaw tree seeds They do not tolerate heavy, wet, alkaline soil. Pawpaws prefer moist, fertile, and slightly acidic soil. It is ideal for them to receive full day of filtered sunlight during this period. The very young specimens may benefit from some shade for the first year or two. They use the nectar of plants such as milkweed, zinnia, lantana, tithonia, dogbane, redbud, and blackberry.Īs a result of the pawpaw trees being its only food source, the Zebra Swallowtail butterfly range is nearly the same as the native range of Asimina Triloba. The adult butterflies will put on their beautiful shows in mid-spring and again in July. They lay individual light green eggs usually on the underside of the leaves. The Zebra Swallowtail caterpillars (pictured above in product pictures) feed exclusively on young pawpaw foliage, mostly at night. These are benefiting from this toxicity by becoming inedible to their potential predators. The leaves of the pawpaw tree contain highly toxic acetogenins, which repels most varmints except a leaf roller caterpillar and the Zebra Swallowtail caterpillar. We sell the native species primarily for the butterflies.Īsimina triloba for Zebra Swallowtail Butterflies Zebra Swallowtail Butterfly at a Zinnia Flower Two trees are required for pollination (ours are grown from seed so they will cross-pollinate), however, the fruits are not utilized by the Zebra Swallowtail caterpillars/butterflies so you will only need multiple specimens if you would like to produce fruit and seed. Assisting with pollination will help with fruit production. Each flower is capable of producing several fruits but pollination can be difficult. The flowers which are produced from about March to May are about 2 inches across, maroon, and grow “upside-down”. It is a deciduous, often narrowly conical, slow growing tree (especially when it is in the younger stage). ![]() Pawpaw trees have been grown successfully in parts of California and the Pacific Northwest. to eastern Kansas and Texas, and from the Great Lakes almost to the Gulf. ![]() ![]() The American Indians are credited with spreading it across the eastern U.S. Pawpaw Tree CharacteristicsĪsimina triloba is native to the temperate woodlands of the eastern USA. It is the only plant on which the larvae of the Zebra Swallowtail Butterflies will feed. Pawpaw Tree (Asimina triloba) is a butterfly host plant also known as Indiana Banana, American Custard Apple, Banango, Poor Man’s Banana, or Hoosier Banana. Host plant to the Zebra Swallowtail butterflyĬross pollination is needed to produce fruit Plant Pawpaw Trees for Zebra Swallowtail Butterflies! Pawpaw Tree Quick Facts: Asimina triloba Native Plant Range USDA, NRCS. Because of this we grow ours in deep pots and ship in the pots to protect the roots. Note: Pawpaw Trees will develop a long taproot. ![]()
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