I have only one heavily fruiting pawpaw. I was told this is not possible. But I can't find another tree with the unusual pawpaw flowers. How is this possible?
The pawpaw is considered to be self-infertile. However according to Neal Peterson, one of the top pawpaw breeders in the U.S., it is possible that there are exceptions to this in nature. In nature, it has been noted that even in remote single clonal stands of pawpaws, there is still fruit set noted. This may be why Neal Peterson suggests that there might be exceptions to the self-infertile. There has been no research that I could find on this other than research showing more fruit is produced when pawpaw trees are cross-pollinated. Pawpaw can easily germinate from seed. It is possible some of its fruit has been eaten by wildlife such as raccoons, opossums, birds etc. and then distributed across the surrounding landscape. Pawpaw will bloom at when small and young (only 2-4 years old) but do not bear fruit usually till an age of 6 years old. I am guessing that there is at least one young, small pawpaw in the area that is helping to pollinate this tree.
Thanks for sharing what you've learned. I find pawpaw TREES in the woods all the time, but never fruit. I'd like to help the breeding cause; I bought 20 seedlings this spring from Cardno Nursery but none had any roots on them, and they didn't grow any. So I'd love to buy some seeds or come dig up your root suckers if anyone can share yours. (For posterity, Allegheny, Potomac, Shenandoah, Susquehanna are the varieties Doug mentions.)
