The pawpaw (Asimina triloba) is North America’s largest native fruit. Often called the “custard apple of the Midwest,” the fruit has a creamy texture and a flavor profile reminiscent of a blend of banana, mango, and pineapple. Missouri is prime territory for finding this distinctive tree and its fruit, which was designated the official state fruit tree in 2019. Locating this delicacy requires understanding the tree’s preferred environment, the precise timing of its short harvest window, and its specific identifying characteristics.
Preferred Habitats and Geographic Distribution in Missouri
Pawpaw trees thrive in specific ecological niches across Missouri, typically preferring moist, rich soil environments. The most reliable places to search are bottomlands and floodplains, particularly along streams and rivers where the soil remains consistently fertile and well-drained. Pawpaws often grow as an understory tree, sheltered beneath the canopy of larger deciduous trees like sycamore and river birch.
Pawpaws usually grow not as single trees but in dense, clonal thickets known as “pawpaw patches,” spreading through root suckers. While the species is distributed across most of the state, it is most prevalent in the central and southern regions. Foragers should look for these patches near the base of wooded bluffs or in protected ravines, as the terrain there provides the moist slopes the tree favors.
The Peak Pawpaw Foraging Season
Pinpointing the correct time is important, as the pawpaw season is notoriously brief. The harvest window in Missouri typically begins in late August and runs through September, occasionally extending into the first week of October, depending on the year’s weather patterns. The fruit is ready for collection only after it has reached maturity.
A key indicator of ripeness is the fruit’s tendency to detach easily from the branch and fall to the forest floor naturally. Foragers should look for fruit that has developed a yellowish hue or brown freckles, is soft to the touch, and gives off a sweet, fruity fragrance. Unripe, hard, green fruit picked directly from the tree will not ripen properly off the branch, making the collection of naturally fallen fruit the most effective foraging method.
Key Identification Markers for Tree and Fruit
Accurate identification of the pawpaw tree is simplified by its distinct, almost tropical appearance. The leaves are large, measuring six to twelve inches long, and have an obovate shape, meaning they are widest near the tip. These dark green leaves often droop slightly, giving the foliage a characteristic “dog-ear” look, and turn a striking golden-yellow color in the fall.
The bark of a mature pawpaw tree is typically smooth and gray, though it can become rougher as the tree ages. In the winter, the tree’s unique terminal buds appear as fuzzy, dark brown structures that resemble small chocolate drops. The fruit itself is oblong or kidney-shaped, resembling a small, pale green mango when immature, but maturing into a yellowish-brown color and measuring two to five inches in length.
Responsible foraging practices dictate that fruit should only be collected from the ground or by gently shaking the tree to release fully ripe specimens.
Alternative Sources: Farmers Markets and Nurseries
Foraging is not the only way to acquire pawpaws, which is helpful given the fruit’s perishable nature. Pawpaws are increasingly available for purchase at Missouri farmers’ markets during the short harvest season. Markets in larger metropolitan areas, such as St. Louis and Kansas City, are reliable places to find vendors selling fresh fruit or value-added products like frozen pulp.
Due to the fruit’s short shelf life and difficulty in commercial shipping, farmers’ markets often represent the best opportunity to buy fresh, locally grown pawpaws. For those interested in long-term cultivation, pawpaw saplings are available from the Missouri Department of Conservation’s state nursery and various commercial specialty nurseries. Planting at least two genetically distinct trees is necessary for successful cross-pollination and fruit production in a home landscape.