Position – Full sun
Soil – Moist, well-drained
Flowering Period –Spring
Hardiness – Hardy
Asimina are deciduous or evergreen shrubs or small trees with large and attractive oval leaves. Purple flowers develop to adorn dark branches in the spring with fleshy green and yellow fruits to follow during the autumn. The fruit is extremely perishable but edible. It can be used similarly to a banana. Asimina are commonly referred to as ‘pawpaw’. They are best suited to wall-side borders in a city, courtyard or Mediterranean garden style. You should expect to see Asimina grow to an approximate height and a spread of between 4-8 metres (13’).
Asimina are best planted in moist, well-drained soil of loam within an acidic or neutral PH balance. As this plant can grow to a substantial height and width, ensure you plant in a suitable site for Asimina to thrive and grow. Asimina can be spread relatively close together, as little as 5 foot is the closest to plant companions as they often graft together and share nutrients. These plants prefer to be grown in a sunny position. Water well once planted to settle the soil into place.
Asimina will need plenty of sunlight to become a tree, otherwise grow as a multi-stemmed shrub. During its first growing season, you may wish to apply a balanced liquid fertiliser every few weeks to aid in its development. Take care to remove weeds around the base; you may wish to apply a thick layer of mulch if necessary.
It is possible to propagate Asimina by seed or layering during the autumn or alternatively by root cuttings in the winter.
