Maria's Joy Pawpaw Description

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Maria's Joy pawpaw is of excellent quality. Winner of many pawpaw contests over the years for taste and size. More cold hardy than the average Asimina Triloba, Late ripening and proven in UK climates! Considered not only one of the best cultivars in general but also has good potential for developing other superior cultivars. Fruit texture and flavour is excellent, buttery and very sweet. Also known as 166-13. A cross of Davis x Prolific made by Jerry Lehman of Terre Haute, Indiana.

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Maria's Joy Pawpaw has a similar taste profile to the Tropical Treat Pawpaw but ripens slightly earlier (still late) and has more of a bubblegum undertone.

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Pollination: Other freestone pawpaw or any other grafted or seedling pawpaw tree will pollinate. For good pollination, plant trees 8-15 ft away from each other only. Pawpaws are not male and female, but rather have “male and female” flower parts on each flower. Every tree is capable of bearing fruit if pollinated well with pollen from another genetically different pawpaw tree. Hand pollination results in heaviest fruit set.

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Pawpaws are generally remarkably disease and insect resistant. See our pawpaw growing article for full information.

Ripening: Mid Season 

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Site requirements: Full sun location for best fruit production. Pawpaws will grow in shade but produce much less fruit. Pawpaws tolerate a range of soil types provided the planting location is well drained and there is heavy mulch and plenty of fertilizer and water. Protected locations, such as on the South, East or West side of a building is ideal on very windy sites.

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The Maria's Joy Pawpaw size at maturity is 15-20′ tall and wide, depending on location, care and pruning to reduce height. We recommend heading them at about 10″ and removing suckers, both of which keep the trees very manageable and small.

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Pawpaws that have excellent flavour and grow well in the UK include: Honeydew Pawpaw, British Bulldog Pawpaw, Summer Delight Pawpaw and Halvin Pawpaw.

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Pawpaws (Asimina Triloba) are related to custard apples and cherimoya, in the sugar apple family, and yet they grow in the temperate zone, having moved north as Ice Age glaciers receded. Flavours of mango, melon, banana, raspberry and pineapple come from this creamy fruit. Like many fruits, if you don’t know what you’re doing and you let them get bruised, or you pick them under-ripe they won't taste very good!

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Flowers: Dormant, velvety, dark brown flower buds develop in the axils of the previous years' leaves. They produce maroon, upside-down flowers up to 2 inches across. The normal bloom period consists of about 6 weeks during March to May depending on variety, latitude and climatic conditions. The blossom consists of 2 whorls of 3 petals each, and the calyx has 3 sepals. Each flower contains several ovaries which explains why a single flower can produce multiple fruits.