Pawpaw is the largest edible native fruit in North America, producing a tropical-flavored, custard-like fruit that was eaten by Lewis and Clark's expedition and remains beloved by foragers today. It forms clonal thickets in rich, moist bottomland forests by root sprouting. It is the larval host plant for the zebra swallowtail butterfly.
Best time to see a Pawpaw
The best time to see a Pawpaw is April–August, when about 66% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 47,440 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
Not certain it is a Pawpaw? What plant is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.
Recent Pawpaw sightings near you
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