Pawpaw Tree
Garden Clippings for October 17, 2020
Hats off to the Friends of Canatara and the Sarnia Environmental Advisory Committee who took it upon themselves to plant a grove of Pawpaw trees (Asimina Triloba) where a washroom once stood. The project was supported by Lambton Wildlife with assistance and material from the City of Sarnia Parks staff.
Who has ever heard off Pawpaws, and why bother planting them in Canatara?
Pawpaw is a little known, unimpressive native tree that grows to about 20 feet high making it more of a shrub than a tree. Pawpaws generally do not have a single straight stem, growing instead like Sumac, with new suckers or offshoots spreading to form a mound of growth.
Pawpaws are not often nursery grown because they are difficult to transplant and have questionable ornamental value. Green leaves are large, up to 12 inches long, and have an interesting habit of flopping downward, making them look droopy or thirsty.
Pawpaws are not abundant, which gives reason to encourage a comeback. They readily grow in the eastern half of USA, but in Ontario will not grow beyond the Great Lakes region. Pawpaws need moisture to thrive and can be found naturally growing along streams and ditchbanks. They need good drainage and do not like waterlogged soil.
Flowers of Pawpaw are unique and sparce, with purple petals appearing in April before growth begins. Fruit is sweet, often shaped like an oversized bean pod, and is a tasty food source for animals.
Pawpaw trees are considered an understory tree, meaning it lives at the edge of the forest where it is neither deeply shaded or sunny.
A second understory tree that grows in Southwestern Ontario but not much further beyond is Redbud (Cercis Canadensis). Redbud grows slightly larger than Pawpaw, with a single stem and branches growing more horizontal.
Redbud trees grow in the same regions as Pawpaw, all the way from Michigan to Northern parts of Florida. Supposedly, Redbuds are considered a native tree in Ontario, but questions remain as to the validity of that claim. Redbuds were rumoured to have grown naturally on Pelee Island, Ontario’s southernmost point, but we now know that any Redbuds growing in Ontario have been reintroduced.
Redbuds are prized as a lovely ornamental plant mostly known for their deep pink flowers appearing in spring before leaves open. Like Pawpaws, Redbuds would prefer to grow at the edge of a forest but can easily adapt to most soil types. They will grow in full sun or partial shade.
A decade or so ago, a collection of Redbud trees was planted at Canatara Park, on the East side of the forest, along Christina Street. Now that they have achieved some size, the display of deep pink blooms is quite stunning.
Because Redbuds are highly ornamental, plant breeders have come up with several new Redbud varieties, including ‘Ruby Falls’ with cascading Red leaves, ‘Little Woody’ a dwarf introduction, and ‘Burgandy Hearts’ with new growth opening as burgundy, then turning dark green.
Other native understory trees that grow naturally in Ontario include Witch Hazel, Dogwoods, and Juneberry.
