Pawpaw (Asimina triloba)
 
The pawpaw is a small to medium-sized deciduous tree native to the eastern United States, typically growing 15 to 30 feet tall. It has a spreading, irregular crown and large, tropical-looking leaves that are glossy green in summer and turn yellow before dropping in fall. Its bark is smooth and gray when young, developing shallow ridges with age.
 
In late spring to early summer, the pawpaw produces maroon, tulip-shaped flowers that give way to oblong, custard-like fruits in late summer. These fruits are highly nutritious and aromatic, attracting both humans and wildlife, including raccoons, squirrels, and birds.
 
Adaptable to rich, moist soils, the pawpaw thrives in understory settings as well as in full sun. Its unique fruits, lush foliage, and compact size make it a distinctive addition to gardens, orchards, and naturalized landscapes.