Originated from the eastern parts of North America, the pawpaw grows there in river valleys on humid soil. The scientific name is Asimina triloba and it belongs to the botanical family of Annonaceae. It is cultivated since the twentieth century. This deciduous tree has in a pyramidal shape and grows up to five meters outside, but in a pot it only achieves two meters. The leaves are formed oval and angular with a size of twenty centimeters and a smooth surface. Flowers are purplish-brown with a broad bell shape. They appear at the end of the branches up to four blossoms per branch. They spread a displeasing flavor to attract flies and carrion-feeding insects. Several fruits grow out of one blossom.

The fruits look like papaya-fruits with a size of five to ten centimeters. They mature from August to October. Fleshes are edible. They were spooned out of the paring. The fruits are an enrichment of vitamins and plant nutrients. The flesh tastes like pineapple, melons, bananas and sometimes like vanilla. There are seventy known cultivars which are different in shape and taste. It can be cooked to jam or used for sweets. They should grow on a sunny or half-shaded place in a nutrient-containing humid soil. Avoid dammed-up water.

This hardy plant tolerates temperatures down to minus twenty-five degrees. These pawpaws grow very slow and are especially resistant against vermin and diseases. The beautiful golden color in autumn makes this plant perfect for using it as ornament.