On a warm fall day, there is nothing like the sweet taste of a ripe Pawpaw (also paw-paw or paw paw) that is still cool from the morning. The flavor of the custard-like flesh can be reminiscent of banana, pineapple, mango, or citrus. The fruit itself is a bit of an ugly duckling. Lumpy, green, and the size of a smallish potato, they are often easier to find on the ground than to see in the trees, where they grow in small clumps. Cut into the fruit to reveal the soft yellowish flesh and the large seeds. September and October are the peak Pawpaw months in our area.
The Pawpaw tree (Asimina triloba) is the only local member of a mainly-tropical plant family, and its delicious fruit is the largest edible fruit native to North America. Unlike the native Pecan, which is important commercially, Pawpaw fruits are too perishable to be of any commercial significance. So, you will most likely have to find your own if you want to enjoy one.
Historically found in well-drained bottomland, Pawpaws currently spreading into drier upland habitat because of deer overpopulation. The hungry deer prefer to eat oaks and other species and will leave the mildly-toxic Pawpaw leaves untouched, allowing them to spread. The trees typically grow to about 30 feet tall and have 10-12 inch long leaves. The maroon flowers appear in early spring, and self-incompatible, meaning they must be fertilized by a second tree, yet a single tree may produce a large patch of many stems, so it’s possible to have a large Pawpaw patch without any fruit. The fallen fruit are more likely to be ripe than those still on the tree, but you’ll have to compete with small animals like foxes and also insects, so inspect yours carefully before enjoying.
Pawpaws may be found and legally collected at some of our local National Parks. Restrictions on foraging are detailed in the Superintendent’s Compendium for each national park, which is available under the “Learn about the Park à Management” on the individual park website. At this time, parks allowing limited collection of Pawpaws include Prince William Forest Park, the C&O Canal, Manassas Battlefield Park, and Monocacy National Battlefield. You can also head to the Pawpaw Fest in Fredrick, MD, on Sep 21, 2024, to learn more and taste Pawpaw delicacies, and remember to celebrate National Pawpaw Day, which is the 3rd Thursday of September and will be Sep 19 this year.
https://www.nps.gov/articles/pawpaw.htm
https://ecologiadesign.com/paw-paw-festival-longcreek-homestead/
Here are some of the relevant superintendents' compendia, which may be updated from time to time. Always verify any restrictions before collecting.
https://www.nps.gov/choh/learn/management/superintendent-s-compendium.htm
https://www.nps.gov/mana/learn/management/compendium.htm
https://www.nps.gov/prwi/learn/management/park-superintendent-compendium-revised.htm
https://www.nps.gov/mono/learn/management/superintendents-compendium.htm