Ohio's Pawpaw Trees

Ohio DNR Forester Casey Burdick tells us how to identify pawpaw trees, how to enjoy their delicious fruit, how to plant pawpaws and more.
Get more information on native Ohio trees at: forestry.ohiodnr.gov

[@ddbtdd]

Ok, I just got back from the woods. I knew I'd seen the leaves before but never the fruit. Low and behold, the tall, spindly branches that get sun have paw paw's on them!

[@unotweek]

Ditto my wife pointed them out in my dads woods. I had never paid attention to them and I'll be damned there were bunches of these fruits. Granted most of them were too high to pick but still a neat thing to see and learn about.

[@ddbtdd]

@@unotweek All you have to do is grab the highest branch that you can reach and keep steady rattling the branches. They will usually fall!

[@mattcasdorph]

Excellent video, I live in Western West Virginia (Jackson County, WV) and my property has quite a few Pawpaw trees. Last year there were loads of pawpaw but this time around I haven't even seen 1 fruit on any of them, I heard they sometimes have a problem with pollinating and that you can take a pencil and help them about (what I heard, don't know if its fact), whether the cause was pollination problem or maybe a late frost that possibly killed the bloom I don't know. I was kinda interested to hear about the root system in the video, if they come off one root system is it not possible to transplant one or two small ones?

[@Fultonfalcons86]

If you have never had a pawpaw you are missing out they are so damn delicious especially a pawpaw pie yum yum.......

[@1bude1]

My woods are loaded with the trees, Nice size fruit on them now. Just waiting to gather them

[@georgecarlin2656]

You lucky bastard!

[@indoorsandout3022]

It's bow season and deer love pawpaws. Just a friendly remminder.

[@huntons.mautin5413]

Here in Nigeria, our pawpaw is kind of oblong in shape, even the trees were a bit different. Good for all indeed. I like it!

[@donavonmacallister3101]

That's a papaya not a paw-paw.

[@huntons.mautin5413]

@@donavonmacallister3101 Thanks for the explanation

[@paultriplett243]

I use over ripe bananas ,oranges or apples to hang in my paw paw trees. The fruit flies gather all around. Thus more assured pollination.

[@davidgoosen1633]

Excellent idea

[@outdooorsman]

LIVED IN OHIO AN BEEN IN WOODS ALL MY LIFE,NEVER SEEN IT WTF

[@anneeoak7934]

OutdoorsMan usually Deer get to them

[@darianzielinsky9421]

Maybe because you weren't looking

[@outdooorsman]

@@darianzielinsky9421 im in northern ohio.they arnt up here.and spent most of my life in bidwell ohio never seen them.if i would have then i promise i would have tried to eat them.loli tried to eat everything that was a fruit when i was a kid.and a few that i shouldnt hae!!not matter what dont eat poison ivy lol i was around 8 and an old guy told me it would make me immune.

[@outdooorsman]

@@darianzielinsky9421 no buddy there are none around here

[@outdooorsman]

@Jeff Johnson dude im always in the woods i know what tree is what.there are none around here

[@faltersmitty9649]

Our woods had a lot of PawPaw trees, hopefully they survived the loggers who left a mess in our woods. Beware of Deer Creek Hardwoods of Millersburg/Holmesville Ohio. Contact a independent Forester

[@wholeNwon]

There's a "Paw-Paw Trail" near my house. Time to get out and find those trees !

[@ernz25]

I wish to have one of those in my back yard, planting is my favorite 😍 From: Ph😚

[@ddbtdd]

I've never had a pawpaw and all I know is you pick up pawpaws and put them in a basket.

[@DiverseKitty]

Just beautiful. Ohio is special after all!

[@paulsimon8269]

A whole ripe fruit can be planted to form a small thicket...seeds are moist packed and stratified in the fridge for spring planting.pollination takes 2 separate varieties to produce fruit...usually.

[@MrHarleyreinke]

I'm born and raised in cleveland ohio. Never even heard did this tree or fruit. The fruit are not sold anywhere here. Hell my.local grow house never even heard did this

[@TheOhioDNR]

It's not widely known, but is a very useful fruit.

[@zigzagzarf]

just ordered 2 paw paw trees...any idea how long it will take for them to start producing...took 3 years for my pears to start producing

[@TheOhioDNR]

+zigzagzarf Starting from seed, a pawpaw tree normally will begin flowering and fruiting in 4-8 years, depending on seed quality, suitability of the location, the care the tree receives, and its genetic makeup (precocity). A grafted tree can begin flowering in 2-3 years after planting. SOURCE: www.pawpaw.kysu.edu/faq.htm#q16

[@AnthropoidOne]

My grafted tree just had its first flower..this is its 3rd year since I planted it. It was probably two when it was shipped to me.

[@DomesticTruther]

Lived here all my life, Toledo and Williams county, just moved back from Florida, never heard of this tree... Very interested in looking for it, I frequent many parks with my family, love to enjoy the beauty I didn't quite appreciate when I was younger and experiencing it with my kids. Thanks for the vid

[@HamBrosOutdoors]

good to see the videos again, love pawpaws

[@user-rurallife]

oh! pawpaw tree. I have two pawpaw tree.

[@jacquechanny945]

United States of America chestnuts 🇺🇸🍃🍂🌰🌳🐚

[@Qingeaton]

We make wine from pawpaw fruit. Have 30 trees and tons of fruit every year.

[@ChefRafi]

Qingeaton do you sell the wine? I love pawpaw fruits!

[@staceygianoplos6381]

Do you have visits from the Zebra swallowtail?

[@sadhumarga7422]

I grew up in Ohio and was always in the woods. I saw that tree a lot but never noticed any fruit.

[@TheOhioDNR]

They can be difficult to spot underneath the large leaves. Only the females will produce the fruit.

[@sadhumarga7422]

Thank you for your prompt reply. I have ordered two trees from a nursery in South Carolina to plant in my food forest. If you have any suggestions as to planting, pruning and any other care please enlighten me.

[@TheAnnoyingThingOutdoors1]

It looks like a potato. ;)

[@davidgoosen1633]

Yeah excellent video I didn't know they came from a single root system

[@smokeydabeecharlescoleman8365]

I'm located in Florida. We currently have 8 Native species here, but none that offer fruit in that size or quality . Is there any chance I could purchase viable seeds from you ? They are for sale all over the internet, but you see them dry in a packet. Anyone with any knowledge of these plants knows that the seeds must remain damp at all times . We will receive our last frost this week, and I am ready to plant. I have sandy loam , slightly acidic, soil. They would be planted in shade for the 1st 3 years, then I would cut back the overstory to allow more sunlight. Thank you for sharing this video, BTW, these trees would be in a backyard food forest. Should they do well, I would offer free seeds to anyone wanting them.

[@TheOhioDNR]

Sorry, we do not produce seeds.

[@speaklifegardenhomesteadpe8783]

Awesome offer... I'm looking for seeds myself. If I get connected, I'll post a video for you and then you can get some as well! ❣️🌼🌻😁👍🌼🌻❣️

[@scott1lori282]

I have one growing. Seems to be hindin facts as how to spread.

[@rbbiefah]

Are Paw Paw skins toxic to earthworms ? (even fruit flies dont lay eggs in paw paw peels )

[@TotemoGaijin]

This is an Ohio video, but I'm assuming since we're neighbors (Indiana), the pawpaws here would look similar?

[@TheOhioDNR]

TotemoGaijin Yes, pawpaws in Indiana are the same as right here in Ohio.

[@TotemoGaijin]

Thanks. The woods near here look to be completely lined at the front with pawpaw trees. I found 2 thumb-sized fruits already growing too. Can't wait. Along with a ton of vitis riparia (riverbank grapes).

[@cherieiduke1723]

They are also called Hoosier bananas

[@mmangla5575]

great information

[@robertsatterlee5696]

Try planting a pawpaw tree using the E.G.W. Blueprint tree planting method ! 20 times more growth, within 3 years, by weight ! And earlier flowering !

[@MrLapro01]

I really like pawpaw tree, can you give me some seeds of this tree to Vietnam?

[@toddavis8603]

Love them, so they won't get the saw-saw! Keep chainsaws away!"Excellent tour, so TY.

[@professorm4171]

Strange, I see tons in the forest here in Cincy but no fruit, not even on the ground. I guess the squires ate them all.

[@cherieiduke1723]

I got some seed and now I have several sprouted. I have planted a few in the woods. Anyone have any experience over wintering them in pots. Would love some advice

[@darkrose8777]

I wish the garden centers carried pawpaw trees or sold seeds. Because in the woods around me(I do live in Ohio) I've never seen a pawpaw tree.

[@70sfred1]

Can you make custard or ice cream from paw-paws?

[@TheOhioDNR]

Yes, you can make both with pawpaws and many more great dishes.

[@thislisa]

Well done vid. Thank you.

[@TheOhioDNR]

Thank you!

[@ddbtdd]

Very well done!

[@adurpandya2742]

Can these grow in Long Island, NY? Do the roots need a lot of room?

[@TheOhioDNR]

The natural range for PawPaws reaches to eastern New Jersey so the chances are good that they will grow in Long Island. The roots like deep soil.

[@gardeningjournal7555]

Adur Pandya Yes they’ll grow perfectly well here. Our climate is suitable. I’m growing a bunch of grafted trees, seedlings and started some from seed in Long Island New York and all of the trees are growing well!

[@Earthpics]

Some people are not able to tolerate eating cooked pawpaw. It can cause severe vomiting and diarrhea. I know this both from my own experience (pawpaw bread in which I substituted pawpaw in a banana bread.) I have no problem eating the delicious fresh pawpaw fruit. I have 4 pawpaw clusters on my property and harvest hundreds of pawpaws yearly.

[@davidgoosen1633]

There's not a better treat than being in the woods and finding them right and just eat them right there why bother cooking with them

[@thephenom724]

Does anyone know what animal would eat the seeds? Because I still have the seeds from last season.

[@AnthropoidOne]

They think that the seeds were spread mainly by Ice Age megafauna..lol.

[@thephenom724]

Donnoha Shit I was afraid you'd say that. Now I'll probably have to disperse them myself.

[@ddbtdd]

I know cultivated varieties of pawpaw have different monikers. Is there a name for the pawpaw typically found growing wild in Ohio besides Asimina triloba?

[@Gareth96v1]

I saw on another site there are two native Ohio cultivars, the Mason and the Montgomery.

[@Maxedaddy]

Do you have any leads or contacts on how we can get Paw Paws in Los Angeles?

[@TheOhioDNR]

+Maxedaddy You might try California Rare Fruit Growers, Inc.

[@Maxedaddy]

Ohio DNR thank you. I emailed them. I will let you know how it goes.

[@agpawpaw5912]

It’s so rare to find PawPaw tree in eastern PA

[@dottycarreiro5977]

LOVE THEM

[@MrRhino12667]

Could these be added to apples when pressing Cider?

[@TheOhioDNR]

+Rhino12667 The pawpaw is very heavy with pulp so it likely wouldn't be a good addition for cider, but let us know how it turns out should you try it.

[@MrRhino12667]

+Ohio DNR Thanks for the reply, that being said, I doubt I add these to my orchard and instead add a new variety of apple and pear.

[@Jrodeadhead2002]

So trees grown from seeds that were in the same fruit won’t cross-pollinate?

[@ddbtdd]

I'm not a grower but I don't think that would be true. It would seem you would need a plant from a different seed or cutting. A pawpaw tree of a different variety may polinate easier.

[@rickreed6831]

Like a real sweet banana

[@76born88]

so i am trying to find out what my paw paw trees are doing they have these pod like things on then i dont know what they are can you help

[@TheOhioDNR]

Are you sure these are paw paw trees? This sounds like something else.

[@76born88]

i have a video of them on my you tube chanal please fell free to go check it out allso to me they look like all the other threes on these paw paw videos thanks

[@76born88]

they look like all the other trees ive see on every video including yours but feel free to check out my you tube i have two videos with pics of what im talking about

[@t-bonena3609]

Interesting.

[@bryanrhoads8058]

That's Kentucky's fruit get your own

[@jamesedwards387]

How do we get the seeds

[@speaklifegardenhomesteadpe8783]

I got mine on ebay

[@3vChava]

oh wrong pawpaw

[@76born88]

How much space should I plant my new paw paw tees apart

[@TheOhioDNR]

Plant 8-10 feet. If using them as a windbreak, they could be planted as close as 6 feet. Good luck!

[@76born88]

i got 7 trees i planted them 6 feet apart in one roll i put cages around them with shade cloth so they dont get bern by fool sun