Pawpaw (Asimina triloba)
 
The pawpaw is a small, tropical-looking deciduous tree native to the eastern United States, often found in rich, moist woodlands and along streambanks. Typically growing 15 to 30 feet tall, it has a slender trunk and a pyramidal to rounded crown. Its large, drooping leaves—sometimes over a foot long—give the tree a lush, almost exotic appearance and turn golden yellow in the fall. In early spring, before the leaves fully emerge, the pawpaw produces unusual maroon, bell-shaped flowers. By late summer to early fall, it bears green, mango-shaped fruits with a creamy texture and a sweet, custard-like flavor, often compared to banana, melon, or vanilla. As the largest edible fruit native to North America, the pawpaw has long been prized by foragers and is gaining popularity in permaculture and orchard settings. Shade-tolerant and low-maintenance, the pawpaw is a unique and rewarding addition to native plantings and edible landscapes.