Conditional — Some Areas
pawpaw (zones 5-9) has limited zone overlap with Maine (3b-6a). Only zones 5-6 in the state are suitable.
Your yard isn't the whole zone.
Maine spans zones 3b-6a, but your yard sits in exactly one — and slope, tree cover, and cold-air pockets nudge it further. Enter your address and we'll score pawpaw against your parcel's actual hardiness, soil, and sun.
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Zone Comparison
Pawpaw Needs
- USDA Zones: 5-9
- Soil pH: 5.2 - 7.5
- Sun: Full Sun
- Drainage: well (dry spells)
- Frost-Free Days: 130+
Maine Has
- USDA Zones: 3b-6a
- Last Frost: May 1 - Jun 5
- First Frost: Sep 10 - Oct 10
- Annual Rainfall: 36-50 inches
- Common Soils: Glacial till, Sandy loam, Rocky loam
Plant Zone Range (zones 5-9)
Preferred Soil pH
Plant data: USDA PLANTS Database / plant_species_v5.csv. State data: USDA ARS PHZM 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, NRCS SSURGO.
When to Plant Pawpaw in Maine
The frost window
Across Maine, the last spring frost clears between May 1 and Jun 5, and the first fall frost lands between Sep 10 and Oct 10 (NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020). Counting from the latest last frost to the earliest first frost, that's a 97-day window you can count on — up to 162 days on a mild site in a kind year.
Frost tenderness
Pawpaw is frost-tender — its listed minimum temperature is 46.4°F (USDA PLANTS Database) — so set plants out after the last frost has cleared your local site, not the state's earliest date.
Establishment timing
As a long-lived plant, pawpaw isn't racing the calendar to a harvest date. Plant it in spring once the last-frost window passes so roots settle in through the full season, or in early fall while the soil still holds summer warmth.
Timing tuned to sub-state frost dates — Aroostook County, not the statewide average.
Frost window: NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020. Plant timing fields: USDA PLANTS Database. Your site's own frost dates can run earlier or later than the state range — a parcel report pins them down.
Growing Season Fit
Zone compatibility says you can survive winter here. Whether the growing season is long enough — and warm enough — is a different question.
Frost-free days
Pawpaw wants 130+ frost-free days; a typical Maine site sees ~150 (NOAA Climate Normals). That leaves a workable window — start indoors to bank time.
Growing degree days
Pawpaw needs ~2400 GDD (base 50°F) to ripen. The state median runs ~2500 GDD (USDA NRCS county aggregates), so Maine sits right at the threshold — pay attention to siting and microclimate.
Chill hours
Pawpaw requires ~400 chill hours (32-45°F dormancy window). Maine typically banks ~1800 chill hours per winter (MSU Extension method), which keeps this plant on track.
Climate aggregates derive from USDA NRCS county-level hardiness data + Cornell CALS Extension GDD-by-region tables + MSU Extension chill-hours-by-zone (1991-2020 NOAA Climate Normals baseline).
Soil + Drainage Fit
Pawpaw likes near-neutral soil (pH 5.2-7.5). That's the common-ground band across Maine's glacial till and sandy loam — a soil test confirms it for your site. Drainage matters: this plant wants well (dry spells). If your Maine site is heavier clay or sits in a low spot, raised beds or amendment with compost solve it.
Your land, not the state average
Whether pawpaw thrives in Maine comes down to drainage, and SSURGO drainage class flips from well-drained to poorly-drained parcel to parcel — your soil map unit, not the state average, is the real answer.
Check your parcel → Source: USDA NRCS SSURGO.
Plant pH and drainage requirements from USDA PLANTS Database. Maine soil profile from USDA NRCS SSURGO. Site-specific verification: a 30-minute soil test from your local Extension lab.
Pawpaw in Maine — Quick Answer
- Verdict: Conditional — Some Areas
- Plant Zones: 5-9 (USDA PLANTS Database)
- State Zones: 3b-6a (USDA ARS PHZM 2023)
- Growing Season: May 1 - Jun 5 to Sep 10 - Oct 10 (NOAA Climate Normals)
What Else to Consider
Zone compatibility tells you about winter cold survival — but Maine growers also need to think about:
Very short growing season (100-140 frost-free days)
Fast varieties, transplants started indoors, and a cold frame on each end — Maine growers make 120 days behave like 160.
Rocky glacial soils require significant clearing
Build up instead of digging out — a raised bed over cleared ground beats a season of boulder harvesting.
Harsh winters with heavy snow and ice
Plant to your true zone and let the snow work for you — it is excellent insulation for well-chosen perennials.
Growing pawpaw here specifically
Pawpaw needs sharp drainage and sends deep roots hardy to about 46°F; in Maine, about 27.4% of soils are poorly-drained (SSURGO), and standing water is what actually kills it.
Build pawpaw up on a coarse, free-draining mound so its crown never sit in saturated soil. How to handle it →
Timing shifts within Maine
Maine isn't one climate. In Aroostook County, the last hard freeze (28°F) holds until about Apr 29 — roughly 13 days later than the recorded state median — so plant pawpaw to your county's window, not the statewide date.
County last-freeze dates: NOAA/PRISM Climate Normals 1991-2020, 28°F threshold (earlier than the folk 32°F "last frost"). A parcel report resolves your address's own frost dates.
Pollinator + Wildlife Value
Pawpaw draws pollinators (low value, USDA PLANTS Database). Planting it near vegetable beds can lift fruit set on neighboring crops.
Maine Cooperative Extension
For Maine-specific cultivar recommendations, planting calendars, and pest pressure for pawpaw, the canonical source is UMaine Cooperative Extension. Their fact sheets carry the local trial data we can't generalize across 50 states.
Is Pawpaw native to Maine?
Pawpaw is native to parts of the Lower 48, but the USDA PLANTS Database (accessed 2026-07-01) does not document a native range in Maine. It can still earn a place in a Maine garden — the zone comparison above tells you whether it will thrive.
Looking for plants that belong here? The Maine growing guide lists USDA-documented natives for the state.
Native-range data: USDA PLANTS Database state-distribution records, accessed 2026-07-01.
Common Questions About Growing Pawpaw in Maine
When can I plant Pawpaw in Maine?
Maine's last spring frost clears between May 1 and Jun 5, and the first fall frost lands between Sep 10 and Oct 10 (NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020). Pawpaw is a long-lived planting, so target spring just after your local last frost — or early fall while the soil holds warmth — and let it establish through the season.
What hardiness zone is Pawpaw grown in across Maine?
Maine spans USDA hardiness zones 3b-6a (USDA ARS PHZM 2023). Pawpaw carries a range of zones 5-9, so the overlap zones are where outdoor growing is most reliable.
How many frost-free days does a typical Maine site have?
A typical Maine site sees ~150 frost-free days per year (derived from NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020). Pawpaw needs 130+ frost-free days, so check whether your local microclimate runs above or below the state average before settling on a planting date. In cooler counties like Aroostook, the freeze-free season runs shorter than the state average, so verify your own county's window.
Is Pawpaw native to Maine?
Pawpaw is native to parts of the Lower 48, but the USDA PLANTS Database (accessed 2026-07-01) does not document a native range in Maine. It can still earn a place in a Maine garden — the zone comparison above tells you whether it will thrive.
How should I amend the soil for Pawpaw in Maine?
Pawpaw prefers pH 5.2-7.5 and well (dry spells) drainage (USDA PLANTS Database). That sits in the common-ground band across Maine soils — a 30-minute soil test from a local Extension lab confirms it for your specific site.
Will Pawpaw actually grow on my specific land in Maine?
State-level zone + climate data is a sketch. A Growable Ground parcel report scores pawpaw against your address's exact soil pH, drainage, sun, and frost-date data drawn from USDA SSURGO, NOAA, and PRISM — not state averages.
Check your specific parcel in Maine
State-level data is a sketch. Your Growable Ground report scores pawpaw against your parcel's exact soil, sun, drainage, and frost data — not zone averages.
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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Analysis by the Growable Ground research team, grounded in USDA PLANTS, USDA NRCS SSURGO, NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020), and named Cooperative Extension sources. How we know →