It's paw-paw blooming time! Although the paw-paw is found throughout Missouri, locating them can be difficult. They grow in colonies and you really have to look to identify them. They can get up to 30 feet tall, though I've never seen one that big.
As you can see above, the flowers appear before the leaves. They are supposed to emit a smell similar to fermenting grapes. I've never gotten close enough to sniff one. Haha!
Paw-paws occur in dense shade on moist lower slopes, ravines, valleys, along streams, and at the base of wooded bluffs. These were found along Johnny's Hollar on the Jacks Fork River.
From Missouri Conservationist:
Native Americans actually used the inner bark of the tree to weave fiber for clothes, while the pioneers used the same material for stringing their fish.
In late summer/early fall the paw-paw produces its fruits. They are usually a little smaller than a fist, green, soft, and taste and smell a little like a banana! They're delicious, but getting to them before the deer is difficult.
Thanks for stopping by! Stay tuned!
I love Paw Paw trees. I grew up the next town over from Paw Paw in Michigan, where the tree used to grow wild along the rivers and lakes there, and the Native Americans enjoyed their abundance. I've only tasted them a few times, but I remember their flavor. I don't remember the flowers so vividly as you have captured them here.
Good job and keep an eye on the trees for when they fruit. If you are the only forager around, you'll probably have more Paw Paws than you can eat.
Thanks so much, @cavemanrob! I had to climb a slippery, muddy slope and balance without falling into the river below to get these shots. Haha! They're just too pretty to pass up.
I've tasted them once or twice and tried to cultivate some of their seeds but never had any luck. I'm definitely visiting this spot again when it comes time for them to fruit. Delicious!
The seeds have been notoriously hard to cultivate, which is why you never see them in stores. They will probably never make it as a commercial crop, which is okay with me, because I love foraging for them. Unfortunately, They don't grow where I live now, but when I visit MI, I try and get out and see if the trees are still there.
I honestly didn't know they grew as far north as Michigan! That's cool. We are in the Southern Missouri Ozarks and they seem to love it here. I know of several places along the Jacks Fork that they grow but I almost never get there in time to actually get any fruit. Those deer and raccoons are tricky fellers!
My understanding was that they aren't sold in grocery stores because the fruit is too soft to transport well . Either way it would make a great market crop!
ETA: Baker Creek sells pawpaw seeds
I've always heard of paw paws, but I've never seen or tasted one. They make beautiful flowers, though. Nice shots!
Thank you, @sustainablyyours! They're a bit like an overripe banana. They have a lot of seeds but they're huge so not a big deal to pick out.
This is so cool! I've heard of a paw-paws, but didn't know very much about these trees or their fruit until your post. I've never seen one. I've only been to Missouri once and didn't get to do any hiking! It's a beautiful state from what I did see from the highways!
I love living in Missouri. I may be partial, but it is one of my favorite states. Even if the humidity in summer is miserable, there's always a river nearby to cool off in. ;) I hope you get to visit again and spend some time in our Mark Twain National Forest or Ozarks National Scenic Riverways! You would fall in love!
@hethur240, I need to plan a trip with my husband, we love road trips and hiking! I used to tent camp, but I like to just rent a cabin these days, so we don't have to pack a tent, sleepings bags, cooking equipment, the kitchen sink. Haha! It's only 6 hours or so to Branson, MO from my house in Texas. My sis and I took our Mom to Branson 1.5 years ago for a birthday treat. I told my hubby he needs to go on a trip to MO with me! Have a great day!
love it and so happy to see this juicy delights out lately~ nice pics!!
Thank you! Do you have any of these on your property? We don't have paw-paws on our 10 acres, but we do have a few persimmon trees. I love finding things to eat just out there in the woods!
we do! we have a few wild stands. we discovered them the first year and were just blown away! last fall we planted 10 selected varieties and this spring many more "native" varieties from the forest nursery (a great place you've likely heard of). no fruits to speak of yet, but can't wait!!!!
You mean someone in MO sells paw-paws?! That's super cool! I hope you get many fruits in the years to come!
yes! and they're so inexpensive!
https://mdc.mo.gov/trees-plants/tree-seedlings/order-seedlings
you can also get improved varieties from Forest Keeling nursery :)
thanks~! xx
I've been trying to start a paw-paw from seed for AGES! :( No luck so far!
It's not native around here, seeds are super expensive and some companies have started selling young grafter varieties for as much as a 20% of a mean month salary... I just hate it when that happens :(
Apparently their germination rate is very poor. I tried a wet paper towel in a plastic baggie, tried just soaking them in water, and tried poking one in the soil. No luck. I wonder if it passing through an animal's digestive system would have anything to do with germination. Now I'm really wondering about that.
Even if one sprouted, the rate at which flowers actually make fruit is super low too. Just not a viable thing to sell.
Well, some guides recommend cold stratification, which I tried (3 months in the fridge) as well as scarification, which I also tried... For a native tree that grows freely in the wild and proliferates, I wonder what could be the problem?
I bet you gotta eat 'em and poop 'em back out. I'm not recommending this.
Hahahahaha!!!!
I love the shot of the little green flower next to the red one. So cool the way they bloom!!
We made pawpaw bread once when I was growing up. I'm planning on planting some on our property!