Asimina triloba 'Rebecca's Gold'

Rebecca’s Gold Pawpaw plant (Asimina triloba ‘Rebecca’s Gold’) produces large and richly flavoured fruit. An excellent selection from Northern California, it is considered a ‘Classic’ variety, found in the wild by dedicated fruit explorers.

The unique flavour of pawpaw fruit is often described as a blend of banana, pineapple, and mango, with a smooth, custard-like texture. The skin is not eaten but peels away easily. The noted sweet, and delectable fruit of Rebecca’s Gold can be eaten fresh and in salads, or used in preserves, pies, vinaigrettes and ice-cream.

Pawpaws are highly nutritious fruits, rich in vitamin C and magnesium, and contain more protein than bananas, apples, and oranges. They are rarely found in grocery stores because the delicate fruit does not ship or store well.

Rebecca's Gold pawpaw trees are typically slow-growing with a pyramidal shape, reaching up to 6 m (20 ft) in height. Cup-shaped, purplish-brown flowers appear in May to June; while not showy, they are quite intriguing. The tropical-looking, elliptical green leaves can reach up to 30 cm (1 ft) in length and turn a bright yellow before dropping in autumn. Mango-shaped fruit ripens from September to October—be sure to harvest before squirrels and raccoons do!

Naturally disease- and pest-resistant, pawpaw is one of North America’s few native fruit trees. Cultivars are hardy to zone 5a : -29 °C (-20 °F), making it exciting to grow a tropical-looking fruit tree that can remain outdoors through our snowy winters.

Rebecca’s Gold Pawpaw plant is a low-maintenance. It prefers well-drained, moist to wet soils. Best fruit production occurs in full sun, though the tree will tolerate partial shade.

To ensure proper cross-pollination and fruit set, two different seedlings or cultivars are required. Native Asimina triloba or Shenandoah Pawpaw are good choices to plant nearby.

Pawpaw trees typically have a lifespan of 20–30 years, providing many seasons of fruit production.