Pawpaw is a tree, a long-term addition to the landscape. It's hardy across USDA zones 5 through 9 and stands up to deer. Its mid spring flowers are a modest draw for native bees, even though the fruit is the prize. It roots deep, which helps it reach moisture in a dry spell and open up tight soil as it establishes.
Zones
5-9
pH Range
5.2-7.5
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
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Score Pawpaw on your exact land.
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What Pawpaw is
Pawpaw grows as a perennial and reaches around 25 feet at maturity. It blooms purple in mid spring. It's also deer-resistant.
How to grow Pawpaw
Pawpaw grows in USDA zones 5 through 9. Pawpaw does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5.2 to 7.5, on well-drained ground. It needs around 2,400 growing degree days to mature, a growing season of at least 130 frost-free days, and about 400 hours of winter chill to set fruit, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
5-9
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
5.2 - 7.5
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
well (dry spells)
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
46.4°F
plant_species_v5.csv
GDD Required
2400+
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
25 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Chill Hours
400+
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
130+
plant_species_v5.csv
Plant it right
Set pawpaw in full sun with well-drained soil. Many fruit trees need a second variety nearby to pollinate — check before you plant just one.
Match the soil
Pawpaw prefers pH 5.2 to 7.5 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Be patient, then harvest
Prune annually while the tree establishes; fruit trees reward patience with years of harvest. Local Extension guides publish per-cultivar bearing-age tables.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — pawpaw isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Pawpaw offers low value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Pawpaw thrives
Pawpaw is hardy across USDA zones 5 through 9. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 5–9·Where Pawpaw growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Pawpaw can grow in these states:
See if Pawpaw will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether pawpaw actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Pawpaw in my zone?
Pawpaw grows in USDA hardiness zones 5 through 9 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant Pawpaw?
Set pawpaw out in early spring or fall while it's dormant, so the roots establish before the heat of summer. Your local last-frost date — which a Growable Ground report pulls for your exact address — sets the precise window.
How much sun does Pawpaw need?
Pawpaw needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Pawpaw need?
Pawpaw prefers soil pH 5.2 to 7.5, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Pawpaw attract pollinators?
Yes — pawpaw's flowers are a modest nectar source for native bees (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Pawpaw safe for pets?
Pawpaw is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.