Is anyone growing this or has it growing wild in Texas?
If so, do you know what kind of soil?
Paw Paw
I have one growing in the butterfly garden that a friend from East Texas gave me.
The soil there is sandy, and the tree is growing very slowly. It is also a larval food for Butterflies.
http://wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ASTR
Lee,
CRFG's link has a bit to say about soil requirements. I know they need to start out as an understory tree. A friend of ours grew paw paws in Ohio.
http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/pawpaw.html
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/fruit/pawpaw.html
They both say paw paws need acidic soil.
How old is your tree Frostweed?
Good info. If we have anyone out there with a tree that is at least 5-10 years old here in Texas, please contact me.
This message was edited Nov 14, 2009 7:17 PM
Mine was very small when I got it and I have had it for 3 years, it is now about 3 feet tall, very slow growing. I don't think I'll get fruit from it, but I got it mainly for the butterflies.
They grow wild in Charlenesplants area I believe. She shared one with me this year at RU. You might dmail her and ask about them.
I have one that I bought five years ago. I bought two for pollinization but one died early on - need to replace it Nearly lost the survivor in the drought - all the leaves dropped but the limbs remained supple - has since put on a few small leaves. About 8 feet now - very attractive in full leaf.
Is it full sun or partial?
What kind of soil do you have?
It is mostly full sun except for high dappled shade from a pecan tree in late afternoon. Soil is black clay/loam a bit alkaline. I give the tree a dollop of used colffee grounds from time to time. It blooms every year and tries to set fruit but the little starts quickly fall off. Really needs a partner.
Sounds great. I have setup the same environment for some seedlings.
I am still looking for anyone that has some wild thickets of paw paw growing here in Texas.