Paw paw trees are one of North America’s best-kept secrets. These native fruit trees produce creamy, tropical-tasting fruit reminiscent of banana, mango, and vanilla. They’re prized by both home gardeners and foragers alike, offering beauty, flavor, and ecological value. If you’re ready to plant your own paw paws, there are three important things to consider: chill hours, planting location, and variety selection with pollination in mind.

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Chill Hours: Timing Nature’s Rest

Chill hours refer to the number of hours plants spend in cool temperatures—between 32°F and 45°F—during the winter. This resting period is essential for healthy growth, as it helps reset the tree’s flowering and fruiting cycle.

Paw paw trees typically require 400–800 chill hours, which makes them well-suited to most U.S. climates east of the Rockies.

Here’s a regional breakdown:

• Northern states (Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania): 900–1,200 chill hours — ideal for all paw paw varieties.
• Mid-Atlantic and Midwest (Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee): 600–900 hours — perfect growing conditions.
• Southern states (Georgia, Alabama, northern Florida): 300–600 hours — still suitable, especially in partial shade or cooler microclimates.

Matching the chill-hour range of your chosen variety to your local conditions ensures steady flowering and consistent fruit production.

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Planting Location: Soil, Sunlight, and Protection

Paw paw trees grow best in full sun to partial shade, with younger trees benefiting from light protection in their first year. Once mature, full sun encourages maximum fruit production.

They prefer well-drained, fertile, slightly acidic soil (pH 5.5–7.0). Paw paws are often found in rich bottomlands or near riverbanks in the wild, but good drainage is still crucial for healthy roots.

To give your trees the strongest start:

• Add Nutra Pro First-Year Fertilizer Packs for steady, balanced nutrients.
• Mix in a transplant blend with moisture-holding polymers to reduce watering needs and transplant shock.
• Use tree shelters to protect from deer, rabbits, and direct sun exposure, while creating a greenhouse effect that encourages faster early growth.

Space trees 8–12 feet apart to allow for growth and airflow.

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Varieties and Pollination

When choosing your paw paw varieties, consider both flavor and fruiting time:

• Allegheny – Known for its rich, custardy flavor and smooth texture. A reliable, early-bearing variety that performs well in northern and midwestern climates.
• Select Paw Paw – A high-yielding cultivar chosen for its large fruit and consistent quality. Its creamy, tropical flavor is a customer favorite.
• Shenandoah – A mid-season variety producing large, seedless fruit with a banana-like sweetness and smooth texture.

Paw paw trees are not self-pollinating, which means you’ll need at least two different trees for proper fruit set. Bees and other native pollinators help transfer pollen between trees, so planting Allegheny alongside Shenandoah or Select ensures heavy, consistent crops.

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Recipe: Paw Paw Custard Tart 🥧🍮

This creamy, lightly spiced tart is a showstopper dessert that highlights the paw paw’s naturally tropical flavor.

Ingredients:

• 1 pre-baked 9-inch tart shell
• 2 cups paw paw pulp (about 4–5 ripe fruits)
• ¾ cup sugar
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• ¼ tsp nutmeg

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Whisk together paw paw pulp, sugar, eggs, cream, and spices until smooth.
3. Pour mixture into the tart shell and smooth the top.
4. Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until set and lightly golden.
5. Let cool before serving, and top with whipped cream or powdered sugar.

This dessert combines the nostalgia of custard with the exotic flair of tropical fruit — perfect for impressing guests or enjoying at home.

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🛒 Where to Buy Paw Paw Trees

The best place to order premium trees is Ty Ty Plant Nursery, LLC:

✅ Best prices on Allegheny, Select, and Shenandoah paw paw trees
✅ Non-GMO, cold-hardy selections for growers nationwide
✅ Fast shipping so trees arrive healthy and planting-ready
✅ Free 1-Year Plantsurance™ Guarantee – store credit if your plant doesn’t survive 🛡️

At Ty Ty, planting fruit trees is always zero stress and all success.

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🌟 Final Thought

Paw paw trees are a hidden gem of American orchards—easy to grow, beautiful to behold, and full of flavor. By understanding your region’s chill hours, selecting a sunny, well-prepared planting site, and pairing varieties like Allegheny, Select, and Shenandoah for pollination, you’ll enjoy harvests of creamy, tropical fruit year after year.

Order your bare root paw paw trees from Ty Ty Plant Nursery, LLC today and bring a taste of the tropics to your own backyard.