Growing pawpaw
berry / bush fruit
Pollination
Self-incompatible - you must plant two genetically different pawpaws. Flowers are fly- and beetle-pollinated, so hand-pollination often helps.
Growing it
Zones 5-8. North America's largest native fruit; young trees need shade for the first year or two, then full sun. Fruit does not ship or store.
Where pawpaw grows best
Hardy in zones 5-8, and it needs enough winter cold - about 400-1000 chill hours - to flower and fruit well. Combining the two:
Good fit across most of: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia. Also parts of Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
Will you get enough chill?
Pawpaw needs roughly 400–1000 hours between 32 and 45 °F over winter to break dormancy evenly. Check your area with the chill hours calculator. Low-chill breeding has pushed many varieties well below the figure here, so read the plant tag.
Questions gardeners ask
What zone does pawpaw grow in?
Pawpaw grows in USDA hardiness zones 5-8.
How many chill hours does pawpaw need?
Roughly 400-1000 hours between 32 and 45°F over winter, depending on the variety. Low-chill varieties need less - check the plant tag, and estimate your own area with the chill hours calculator.
Does pawpaw need a pollinator?
Needs a pollination partner. Self-incompatible - you must plant two genetically different pawpaws. Flowers are fly- and beetle-pollinated, so hand-pollination often helps.
Which states can grow pawpaw?
Pawpaw suits most of Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky and 16 more, and parts of 21 other states where the right zones occur. Your own zone and chill hours matter more than the state.
Chill and pollination are given at the fruit-type level; specific cultivars can differ. Values are typical ranges for home-garden planning.