Pawpaw Patch Guild (Kentucky Native) — FarmPal
A specialized guild for North America's largest native fruit. Pawpaw (Asimina triloba) produces tropical-flavored custard-like fruit in temperate climates. Requires cross-pollination from genetically distinct trees. Native to Kentucky river bottoms and slopes.
Central Tree
Pawpaw
Spacing
25-35 feet
Establishment
5-8 years to first fruit
Guild Layers
Canopy
Persimmon (American), Black Walnut (30+ ft away juglone sensitive)
Understory
Pawpaw (3-5 trees minimum, different cultivars), Redbud (nitrogen-fixer), Sassafras
Shrub
Spicebush (Lindera benzoin), Witch Hazel, American Beautyberry, Paw paw seedlings as understory
Herbaceous
Ramps, Blue Cohosh, Black Cohosh, Wild Ginger, Solomon's Seal
Groundcover
Mayapple, Wild Violets, Creeping Phlox, Partridgeberry
Root
Groundnut (Apios americana), Wild Leeks
Vine
Passionflower (Maypop), Muscadine Grape (southern areas)
Benefits
- •Produces exotic tropical-flavored fruit (mango-banana-custard) in zones 5-9
- •Natural pest resistance almost no insect or disease problems
- •Deer resistant (leaves and bark contain acetogenins)
- •Shade tolerant understory thrives under canopy
- •Native pollinator support (flies and beetles pollinate flowers)
- •Low maintenance once established native plants self-regulate
- •Spicebush berries are a native allspice substitute