Woolly Pawpaw

Asimina incana

Native to:
United States

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Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Annonaceae
Genus:
Asimina
Species:
Asimina incana
USDA Symbol:
ASIN12

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Shrub
Height:
240 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
Medium
Bloom Months:
mar,apr,may
Bloom Colors:
white, cream
Food Forest:
Contains edible parts
Landscaping Shrub:
Yes

Wildlife Benefits

Butterflies & Moths:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
Caterpillars:
★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Zebra Swallowtail (Eurytides marcellus)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
butterflies, small mammals, birds
Deer Resistant:
Yes
Fragrant:
Yes
Fall Color:
yellow
Fire Ecology:
Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
Fire Notes:
Resprouts vigorously from root crown after fire, adapted to the fire-maintained scrub and sandhill ecosystems of Florida.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
sandy, acidic, nutrient-poor soil
pH:
4.5 - 6.5 (acidic to slightly acidic)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
dry to moderate
Notes:
Prefers open, sunny habitats like sandhills and scrub

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
Cold/moist then warm stratification (double dormancy) — 90–120 days
Germination Time:
30–90 days
Notes:
Seeds exhibit double dormancy and require warm stratification followed by cold stratification. Germination can be erratic and prolonged even with proper treatment.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI

Pre-treatment: Cold-moist stratification for 30 days at 1–5°C (34–41°F).; then Cold-moist stratification for 60 days.

Source: Claude AI