Asimina triloba Allegheny - Pawpaw

The Asimina triloba 'Allegheny' is a selection by Neal Peterson, an American plant geneticist who fell in love with this fruit species in the 70s and has dedicated his life to it since then. This early variety produces medium-sized fruits (150 grams and more) in significant quantities, starting from September.

The pawpaw tree is the only representative of the tropical Annonaceae family in temperate climates. Nine species are present in the United States, with Asimina triloba being the hardiest of all (up to the far south of Canada). It is a small tree that grows slowly, well-branched and bushy, reaching a height of 4 to 5 m (13 to 16ft) over time and a width of 2.50 to 3 m (8 to 10ft). It generally has an ovoid or even pyramidal habit, on a relatively short trunk, sometimes even branched from the ground. The large, narrow, single leaves, about 25 cm (10in) long, lazily hang towards the ground, giving it a characteristic appearance reminiscent of tropical areas. In autumn, they turn a bright yellow color, just slightly paler than that of the Ginkgo, the maidenhair tree. Therefore, the pawpaw tree is worth planting for its beautiful autumn coloration. Its 6-petaled flowers form bell-shaped blooms of a beautiful burgundy color in March-April, although their modest size (3-4 cm (1-2in)) and their often isolated distribution on the branches offer limited appeal. Its nickname, the northern mango, comes from the evocative shape of the fruits, whose skin remains green when ripe, while the sweet flesh resembles the taste of mango and banana (which is why it is sometimes also marketed as Indian banana or poor man's banana...). The fruits contain about ten large black seeds, which are harvested when the flesh becomes tender. Therefore, picking should be done without force, and the fruits can even be picked up from the ground. Then, they should be consumed quickly (they only keep for a few days at room temperature) or stored in the fridge (up to 2 weeks).

With its delicious taste, the pawpaw tree also has high nutritional value (it is particularly rich in vitamins A and C). Americans consume it raw or prepared as juice, sorbet, cake...

The Asimina triloba 'Allegheny' will find its place in a small urban garden, possibly near a wall that will shelter it from strong winds. Its slow growth should not make us forget to leave enough space for its future development. Also, consider planting it in pairs to allow cross-pollination and obtain fruits. Although it is primarily a fruit-bearing species, its ornamental value encourages its association with other decorative plants. It can thus be integrated into a garden with an exotic appearance, associated with hardy palms such as the Trachycarpus fortunei, the Fatsia japonica, or yuccas, to create a scene rich in shapes and colors of foliage suggesting the exuberance of the Tropics. Or, more traditionally, rely on the contrasts of autumnal colors by planting it near slow-growing shrubs (to avoid suffocation) that turn red, such as the Euonymus alatus 'Compactus' or the Nandina domestica 'Fire Power'.