Pawpaws are native to this area as well of most of the eastern U.S. I planted 7 trees and two began producing pawpaws after three years growth. It's surprising...it's hard to see the fruit. It is close to the stem and usually hidden by the large leaves. As to taste...if you've ever had a cherimoya it's a lot like the taste of pawpaws. They look like they're in the same family although cherimoyas are tropical. I like them...not as much as cherimoyas but then I don't live in the tropics...lol. I have mine planted as understory trees. They get direct sun but not all day.

Pollination isnt the problem. My sunflower pawpaw is now 3 years old, and a little over 6 feet tall. I produced its first flowers this year and lots of gnats and other things were hitting the flowers pretty good, and there were dozens of blossoms. Most of them formed a fruit very small just like the picture the other poster above posted. They all fell off except for one. It is now around the size of a quarter and appears that it will be staying for good now. I think its just an issue of trees being very young to hold the fruit maybe. I expect a better crop next year. Im satisfied that it is gonna bear anything at all this early and is putting on good growth in branches and height. I believe growing conditions etc. determine when and how the trees will produce their first crops. I had been fertilizing mine according to recommendations and watering during dry spells etc. Someone who might not take as good care of their tree or in poorer soils might not get their first fruit till a couple of years later. There also was no pollinator for this tree, it self pollinated. Im in the middle of town and know there is not another pawpaw for miles at least.

Hello, lucky p and bangstrom -- Thanks for looking at the pics. OK, I won't worry.. I thought it was weird because the yellowing leaf (which fell off when I touched it yesterday) was also sort of turning black around the veins, as are a few other leaves still firmly attached. Most of the dots are stationary, but a few rub off, so looks like they're eggs. They come off easily, so that's what I'm doing. These little paw paws sure are pretty, though. I will keep you abreast of significant developments. Bernard-in-Ohio

I just wanted to resurrect this thread by sharing an interesting blog page about a native patch and a pawpaw enthusiast that is local to Massachusetts. I found a like-minded individual who has posted some interesting info on pawpaws and I thought I would share. Also, it seems that Tripple Brook Farm in Southampton, Ma. also sells pawpaws and has a stand of native persimmons and paersimmon trees to buy. Here is a link that might be useful: the pawpaws