Pawpaw

The largest edible fruit native to North America grows on the pawpaw, with creamy, custard-like flesh that tastes of banana and mango. Large drooping leaves give the tree a tropical look before turning golden yellow in fall. It is the host plant for the zebra swallowtail butterfly, a great reason to include it in native and wildlife gardens. Planting two or more genetically different trees improves pollination and fruit set. Pawpaw seed must never dry out and needs a long cold period, and the young plants prefer some shade during their first summers.