Pawpaw tree with fresh pawpaws

Pawpaw Tree

1-2 Feet / Buy 1 Get 1 Free
$44.99
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Pawpaw Tree

Pawpaw Tree

Height Shipped
Quanitity

Buy 1, Get 1 FREE - Add 1 to your cart, and we'll automatically send the second one FREE!Bulk pricing applied. Free plant offer is only on the Buy 1 Get 1 Free option.
$44.99
Ships Between November 15-29
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Pawpaw tree with fresh pawpaws
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Planting & Growing Information

Ships

Ships Between November 15-29

Planting Zone

5-8

Height at Maturity

15-30 Feet

Water Needs

Low and Moderate

Sun or Shade

Full sun and Partial shade

Bloom Season

April through May

Care

Pawpaw trees thrive in well-drained, rich soil. Water regularly, particularly during dry periods, and mulch to retain moisture. Prune in late winter to shape and release any dead wood. Protect from pests and diseases to ensure healthy fruit development.

Exposure

Partial sun/shade

Plant Attributes

Native variety, disease resistant , Classified as a superfruit, Attracts all types of pollinators
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Planting & Growing Information

Ships

Ships Between November 15-29

Planting Zone

5-8

Height at Maturity

15-30 Feet

Water Needs

Low and Moderate

Sun or Shade

Full sun and Partial shade

Bloom Season

April through May

Care

Pawpaw trees thrive in well-drained, rich soil. Water regularly, particularly during dry periods, and mulch to retain moisture. Prune in late winter to shape and release any dead wood. Protect from pests and diseases to ensure healthy fruit development.

Exposure

Partial sun/shade

Plant Attributes

Native variety, disease resistant , Classified as a superfruit, Attracts all types of pollinators

Pawpaw Tree Details

The pawpaw tree (Asimina triloba) bears the largest edible fruit native to North America. The fruit has a rich, tropical flavor, and the tree supports wildlife, pollinators, and healthy native ecosystems. This fruit is rarely sold in stores, so the best way to enjoy it is to grow your own.

 With TN Nursery offering pawpaw for sale, you can grow the same native fruit that Thomas Jefferson grew at Monticello. 

It’s best to plant young trees where they get some shade. Once they grow larger, they can handle full sun. They do best in rich, moist soil under a layer of mulch. Pawpaw is hardy in USDA zones 5 to 8, so it grows well across much of the Eastern and Central United States.

 The zebra swallowtail butterfly likes to lay its eggs on pawpaw, and its caterpillars feed only on pawpaw or its close relatives. So you should expect to see these butterflies around your trees in spring and summer.

  • Hardiness zones:  USDA 5-8
  • Mature size:  15-30 feet tall, with a 15-20 foot spread
  • Light: partial shade when young, full sun to partial shade once established
  • Soil: moist, rich, well-drained, slightly acidic
  • Pollination: plant at least two trees, since a single pawpaw cannot set fruit
  • Heights shipped: 1-2, 2-3, 3-4 or 4-5 feet
  • Packs: Buy 1 Get 1 Free (two trees), 25 trees or 100 trees
  • Shipped as: bare-root, from our Tennessee nursery to gardens nationwide

Pawpaw for Sale: Bare-Root Trees From Our Tennessee Fields

We grow our pawpaw trees by the field at our Tennessee family nursery. Pawpaw trees are hard to find at garden centers, and you usually find pawpaw for sale as a single potted tree at a steep price. 

Each tree is dug between November and April, while it is dormant, so it’s better to keep the roots damp and plant as soon as you receive the box. Pawpaw trees require a partner to set fruit, so our Buy 1 Get 1 Free offer covers that, while the 25- and 100-tree packs bring the price per tree down for a grove or an orchard row. This plant ships bare root.

For planting tips and care instructions, explore our Pawpaw growing guide. You can also browse our collection of fruit trees to find more varieties for your home orchard.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do deer avoid pawpaw trees?

Deer tend to avoid pawpaw trees (Asimina triloba) because of the plant's natural chemical defenses. The leaves, twigs, and bark contain acetogenins, a group of compounds that are toxic to many herbivores and insects. These chemicals impart a bitter taste and unpleasant odor to the foliage, rendering it unpalatable to deer and other browsing animals.
How long does it take a pawpaw tree to bear fruit?

Several factors influence how quickly it fruits: sunlight, soil health, and moisture play major roles. Pawpaws prefer rich, well-drained soil. Seed-grown pawpaws usually begin fruiting 5 to 8 years after planting, and larger trees get there sooner: a 3-4 ft tree often fruits in about 3 to 4 years. Late summer and early fall are when the fruit ripens. Remember: you will get the best crop by planting two or more trees near each other.
Where do pawpaw trees grow best?

Pawpaw trees grow best in the eastern and midwestern United States, thriving naturally in the understory of hardwood forests from the Great Lakes down to the Gulf Coast. They prefer USDA hardiness zones 5 through 8, where winters are cold enough for dormancy but summers are warm and humid enough to ripen fruit.
They flourish along riverbanks, stream edges, and low woodland slopes, areas that stay moist but not soggy. When cultivated, pawpaws do best in full sun once established, though young trees require some shade for their first couple of years. By working compost into the planting area, you give the trees a moisture-holding, rich soil that they love.
How do I plant and care for a bare-root pawpaw tree?

Plant while the tree is dormant, from November to April, as soon as you can after it arrives. Keep the roots damp until they go in the ground, and soak them in water for an hour before planting. Dig a hole deep and wide enough to hold the roots without bending the taproot. Set the tree at the depth it grew in the nursery, backfill with the soil you removed, and water well to settle it.

Water once a week through the first growing season whenever rain falls short. Keep 2 to 3 inches of mulch over the root zone, pulled back from the trunk. In a sunny spot, shade young trees for their first year or two with shade cloth or a board on a stake. Pawpaw trees need little pruning beyond removing dead or crossing branches.
Why buy pawpaw trees from TN Nursery?

Pawpaw is our #1 selling tree and the one we know best. We grow over 2 million pawpaw trees in Tennessee from over 2 tons of seed each year, and our family sources pawpaw seed from every major seed source in the country. Many other nurseries buy their pawpaws from us wholesale. Across more than 160 customer reviews, the comments we hear most are that the trees arrive healthy, with strong roots, and carefully packed.


Our pawpaw trees come from a family nursery that has been growing in Tennessee since 1959, when Roscoe Tate started it all in Altamont
How much does a pawpaw tree cost?

A Buy 1 Get 1 Free order of 1-2 ft bare-root pawpaw trees is $44.99, so you get two trees for about $22.50 each. Buying more saves more: 25 trees work out to about $15.20 each and 100 trees to about $8.00 each. Taller trees, from 2-3 ft to 4-5 ft, run about $23.50 to $29.50 each with Buy 1 Get 1 Free. For the lowest price per plant, our pawpaw seedlings come in packs of 100, starting at about $1.50 each.
Root system of a plant on soil with a trowel nearby

Why Buy Bare Root Plants From TN Nursery?

Since 1959, TN Nursery has grown and shipped quality bare root plants nationwide. Shipped during dormancy, bare-root plants develop strong root systems and establish quickly. Our experienced team carefully harvests and packages every order, providing growers with trusted plants backed by over 65 years of nursery experience.

Learn More About

Bare root trees
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Delicious Tropical Fruit: 

The Pawpaw Tree produces unique fruits colors can include subtle variations of yellow, brown, orange, and green, adding many stunning features to the plant. 


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Nutrient-Rich Fruit: 

Pawpaw fruits are rich in vitamins and antioxidants, offering a healthy addition to your diet.

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Lush Foliage: 

Its large, tropical-looking leaves add an exotic touch to any landscape.

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Native Plant: 

As a North American native, the Pawpaw Tree supports local wildlife and promotes ecological balance.

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How We Dig, Pack & Ship

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Product Highlight

  • 5 stars: 144 (88%)
  • 4 stars: 19 (12%)
  • 3 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 2 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 1 star: 0 (0%)
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Tam B
Exactly as described

The trees came exactly as described. They were gently packed and arrived quickly and safely, and I got them planted into the ground same day. Now I wait for leaves to appear. I’m really liking TN nursery!

Tam B review photo
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Art Griffin
Paw paw trees

I bought two of the 3 to 4 foot tall bare root paws from you guys and I bought one from Ty Ty Nursery also 3 to 4 foot so that I would have a genetic diversity. You two were magnificent. The other one from the other company sucked. I will continue to buy from you guys. Thank you.

Art Griffin review photo
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Anonymous
Slowest growing plant ever! A real challenge!.

Not kidding. 6 trees were planted. And it took 2 months for #6 tree to bud. I didn't think they weren't going to grow.

Anonymous review photo Anonymous review photo
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Jennifer Keyser
Heathy trees and wonderful surprise

I’ve been searching for native Pawpaw trees and was able to get live healthy trees from TN nursery along with their companion ginger plant. The trees arrived healthy with root wrapping. To my surprise, I was sent 2 additional paw paws and was able to gift 2 to a friend. They are inground now and I hope to have some buds before the summer starts.

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Rick
Great trees

I ordered 2 pawpaw 2-3ft trees, planted them within 2 days of receiving and now within 3 weeks they have started to leaf out. Great purchase, couldn’t be happier with the trees.

F
Faith Gibbs
Always satisfied

I ordered a boho of foot tall pawpaws last year. Was so pleasantly surprised when three arrived. Planted them all and they were doing well until my children snapped the tops off of two of them. I knew I’d use TN Nursery to replace them this year and I did. Ordered a bogo of 2-3ft tall pawpaws and received 3 again! Always a pleasant surprise. They’re also the same height as the one that survived last year and look great so far. I’m excited to see them progress and continue to use TN Nursery

E
Eddie Whitlock
Bucket List Item… check!

I am old and am trying to get native but absent fruits and berries growing in my yard before I die. I had no luck with paw paws from seed . Thanks to the good folks at The Tennessee Nursery, I have some saplings going now. I may not be around for the harvest, but I’m happy to have gotten them started.

C
Chris
Pawpaw tree

Tree came quickly and was healthy and ready to plant.

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Laura Simmons, Illinois
Thrilled with My Pawpaw Trees from TN Nursery

My Pawpaw trees from TN Nursery arrived in perfect condition. The trees were fresh, well-hydrated, and packaged with care. After planting them, they quickly adjusted and are now producing healthy leaves. I’m excited for the delicious fruit they will bear in the coming years. TN Nursery is definitely the best place to buy Pawpaw trees online.

B
Brian Matthews, North Carolina
TN Nursery Pawpaw Trees – Excellent Quality and Growth

The Pawpaw trees I received from TN Nursery exceeded my expectations. They were well-packed, had strong roots, and showed no signs of stress. Within weeks of planting, I noticed vigorous growth. These native fruit trees are perfect for creating a sustainable, edible garden. I highly recommend TN Nursery for anyone wanting high-quality Pawpaw trees.

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Amanda Hughes, Michigan
Pawpaw Trees Arrived Healthy and Strong from TN Nursery

I purchased Pawpaw trees from TN Nursery, and the entire experience was smooth. The trees arrived with healthy root systems and no damage from shipping. They established quickly in my garden and are already thriving. I love that TN Nursery offers these hard-to-find native fruit trees at such reasonable prices. I will definitely order again.

D
David Morgan, Pennsylvania
Best Place to Buy Pawpaw Trees – TN Nursery Review

After researching several online nurseries, I chose TN Nursery for my Pawpaw trees, and I couldn’t be happier. The trees were shipped quickly, arrived healthy, and adjusted perfectly to my soil. They’re already producing new growth and look strong. I appreciate TN Nursery’s excellent customer service and their commitment to providing top-quality native plants.

M
Melissa Wright, Virginia
Pawpaw Trees from TN Nursery – Beautiful and Hardy

I’m thrilled with the Pawpaw trees I purchased from TN Nursery. They arrived well-packaged, fresh, and ready to plant. The trees are already thriving in my backyard orchard, and I can’t wait to harvest their unique custard-like fruit in the future. TN Nursery provided clear planting instructions, which made the process easy and stress-free.

J
Jonathan Price, Kentucky
Thriving Pawpaw Trees – TN Nursery Delivers Quality

My Pawpaw trees from TN Nursery were delivered fast and carefully packed. The root systems were moist and healthy, making transplanting very easy. Within weeks, I noticed new growth. These trees are perfect for my edible landscape, and I appreciate that they are native fruit trees that attract pollinators. TN Nursery consistently delivers great plants at affordable prices.

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Rebecca Turner, Ohio
Thriving in My Garden

I ordered two Pawpaw trees from TN Nursery, and they arrived in outstanding condition. The roots were strong, the packaging was secure, and the trees showed no signs of stress. After planting them in my orchard, they quickly established and started growing healthy green leaves. I’m excited for the delicious pawpaw fruit in the coming years. TN Nursery is truly a reliable source for native fruit trees.

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Tonya Lauderbach
Amazing

Wow So Beautiful Love This

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Lacy
Excellent service!

Response times are fast for communication. Even when order was delayed they kept in contact and offered options. Even got an extra sucker root. Saplings took to ground excellently are happy and springy!

L
L.P.
Great customer service

I bought 6 pawpaws and 3 of them **** by the end of fall. I contacted customer service, filled out a form with pictures, and they promptly gave me a gift card for the amount of th e trees. Will definitely buy more trees in the spring!

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John Ferguson
Thriving Pawpaw Tree

Just wanted to say thank you and my Paw Paws are thriving.

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Patricia Langston
Trees

My pawpaw trees arrived in good shape. They looked very good, with good root systems. I was under the weather, so my brother-in-law set them out for me. They immediately leafed out and started growing. It looked like they were set too deep, so this winter, I will get some of the soil off while they are dormant. In my state, pawpaws only get 3-4 feet tall and the fruit is small ,so I am looking forward to some large fruit. Thank you.

G
Gerald Samosel
Paw Paw Trees

We are getting new leaf growth now. Can’t wait to taste the fruit. !!!

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Janice Bucy
Paw Paw Trees

Looks great. Very well packed.

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Dan Sweeney
Waiting for it to Bloom

I don't know how they will do yet Hoping they BLOOM. Stay tuned!
Dan Sweeney
Mahwah NJ

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John Ferguson
Happy tree

Arrived asleep but with good wet roots. Packaged well. Thank you TNN team!

A
Andrew Alvarado
Paw Paw Trees

They look good.

M
Murray Smith
Still early but so far so good

The bare-root pawpaw trees I ordered (two, plus a third free) arrived on time, as described, and in good shape. I planted them 24 hours later. So far no leaf buds but it's only been a few days.

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Mark Pafford
Just got the Paw paw plants bogo deal

UPS delivery on time. Florida heat kept them warm but the roots were moist! Hoping they do great in NC in the mountains.

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Roy Jines
Time will Tell.

I would like to see how well they come out and start to show new growth before I do a review like this. Just looking at sticks for now.

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Elizabeth Hunt

Packed nicely and a good price

M
Michael De Melo
Very well packaged

Our trees came very nicely packaged, and have been planted. Time will tell if they grow, but it would be great if they do.

M
Marguerite Witten
PAWPAW TREE

My trees arrived in record time, and I'm excited to watch them grow. I'm new to The South, so this is exciting for me. Thank you so much!