Trees of Alabama and the Southeast Home Page

Leaves are simple, alternate, deciduous, obovate to elliptical, and up to12 inches long with maroon hairs on the underside. When leaves are crushed they smell like green peppers.  Light brown twigs have maroon hairs and buds are naked with velvety maroon hairs.  Bark is brown-gray and smooth with warts. Flowers are striking purple-maroon and 3-petalled.  Fruit is an edible, banana-like berry that some say tastes like custard when ripe.  Pawpaw is found in the understory on moist, well-drained sites in the east and central U.S.  The fruit is custard-like when ripe and eaten by squirrel, fox, raccoon and small animals.

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All text and photographs are intended for educational purposes only and are not for commercial use in any form.  All photographs are copyrighted by the named photographer(s), text copyright by Lisa Samuelson. © 2005, all rights reserved. Photographs by Mike Hogan or Todd Langston.

Click on photo to enlarge.       
All text and photographs are intended for educational purposes only and are not for commercial use in any form.  All photographs are copyrighted by the named photographer(s), text copyright by Lisa Samuelson. © 2005, all rights reserved. Photographs by Mike Hogan.