Trending
A warm, late-summer sun set the perfect stage at WVU's Core Arboretum for this year's Pawpaw Festival, drawing a enthusiastic crowd eager to sample ripe fruit, purchase starter trees, and learn about one of Appalachia's most unique botanical treasures.
As the largest native tree fruit in North America, the pawpaw (Asimina triloba) holds a special place in regional history. A member of the tropical Annonaceae family--closely related to magnolias, tulip trees, and nutmeg--the fruit was once so deeply embedded in Eastern American culture that six different states named towns “Paw Paw” in its honor. Today, that legacy lives on across 15 to 20 dedicated festivals throughout the Eastern U.S. and Appalachia as renewed interest in pawpaws grows.
The fruit has a custard-like texture and a flavor similar to a blend of banana and pineapple. Additionally, the pawpaw tree plays a vital ecological role. It serves as the sole host plant for the caterpillars of the Zebra Swallowtail, ensuring that one of the region's most striking butterflies continues to grace Appalachian skies.