American Paw Paw - Cold Tolerant
American Pawpaw (Asimina triloba)
One of the most unique and delicious fruits that can be grown in the backyard orchard. Native to eastern North America, these are the only member of the Annonaceae, or custard apple family, that is adapted to temperate climates to -20 degrees.
Its tropical relatives include the cherimoya, atemoya, guanabana, and soursop, and it is easy to see the resemblance between the American pawpaw fruit and that of its tropical cousins.
American Pawpaw fruit combines delectable, fruity, banana-like flavour with creamy, custard-like flesh. Nutritious as well as delicious, the greenish yellow, 3″-6″ long fruit is unusually high in protein and is a good source of vitamins and minerals.
Everything about this plant, from its leaf size and shape to the way its fruits look, taste and smell is tropical, yet it’s cold hardy and can be grown in temperate climates from coast to coast.
American Pawpaw should produce good quality fruit and can also serve as pollinators for grafted varieties. Plant two seedlings, or a combination of seedlings and grafted varieties, for cross-pollination.
A must have for every NZ Plant Enthusiast! We have 5-6 different mixed varieties of American paw paw you will have a good mix for your garden! Plant is 2+ years.
Plant Care
- Soil: Prefers deep, fertile, well-drained soil, slightly acidic with a pH of 5.5 to 7.0
- Watering: Requires consistent moisture, especially during fruit development. Avoid waterlogging.
- Temperature: Thrives in temperatures between 5°C and 35°C. Needs winter chill to induce
- Light: Grows best in partial shade but can tolerate full sun once established.
- Fertilising: Apply a balanced NPK (10-10-10) in early spring to promote growth.
- Pruning: Prune in late winter to maintain shape and remove damaged branches.
- Mulching: Mulch with organic material to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
- Pest Control: Generally pest-resistant; monitor for common fruit tree pests.
- Flowering and Fruiting: Flowers in late spring; fruits mature by late summer or early autumn.
- Potting: Can be grown in large containers but prefers ground planting.
- Feeding Regime: Fertilise young trees annually and mature trees only if growth is slow.
We ship our plants and garden supplies throughout New Zealand. Due to the increased costs of shipping and packaging, we now apply a minimal delivery charge. After offering free shipping for three consecutive years, we find it necessary to adjust this policy to align with current market conditions. However, we have lowered our prices to help offset this change.
Please note, we do not ship plants or garden supplies internationally from New Zealand. We do export plants and tissue culture materials from our overseas nursery, which requires a minimum order. Please contact us at hello@exoticanz.com to discuss your specific requirements.
Shipping (per plant)
Auckland & Northland: $20
Rest of North Island: $25
South Island: $45
Rural Address: Additional $5
Shipping Garden Supplies
Auckland & Northland: $10
Rest of North Island: $15
South Island: $20
Rural Address: Additional $5
Delivery
- Our plants are available for shipment throughout the year, depending on stock levels. Typical delivery times range from 5 to 7 business days, although they can take up to 10 business days depending on the destination.
- We take extra care in packaging; most of our plants are secured in bespoke inserts and shipped in individual boxes to ensure they arrive undamaged.
- Deliveries are scheduled once a week, typically on Monday. If you place your order over the weekend, we aim to dispatch your plants on the following Monday. This scheduling allows our team to prepare your order thoroughly and ensures the courier has sufficient time to deliver your plants safely, avoiding any unnecessary delays over the weekend.
- All orders are shipped via courier track and trace service (not signature required)
- We cannot deliver to PO Box addresses.
- If you have a rural address, please contact us beforehand to discuss the best delivery options and avoid any potential issues.
Additional Delivery Information
- We dispatch our plants year-round, as most are shipped with soil. During the winter months, we closely monitor weather conditions and may temporarily delay shipments if the weather is particularly severe. Our packing process includes adding insulation when necessary to protect the plants against temperature extremes.
- In summer, we ensure that plants are thoroughly watered before they leave our nursery. Occasionally, we may need to ship plants bare-rooted, particularly when they cannot be comfortably re-potted into smaller packaging for shipping. We will always discuss this with you in advance if your plant needs to be shipped in this manner.
- It's important to note that shipping can be a stressful experience for plants, often due to spending several days in a dark, confined space. While most plants withstand this with little to no stress, some may experience leaf drop. However, they generally recover quickly with some additional care, including proper watering and gradual reintroduction to light after arrival.
