NC-1 Pawpaw Tree
Asimina triloba 'NC-1'
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NC-1 Pawpaw Tree - #1 Container is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.
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Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
Fast, Safe Plant Delivery
Ships in 3-4 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected
Under $50 | $9.99 |
$50 - $99.99 | $14.99 |
$100 - $149.99 | $16.99 |
$150+ | $24.99 |
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Understanding Plant Options
Nature Hills offers plants in two main formats:
- Container Plants: Grown in pots with soil, sized by container volume and plant age
- Bare Root Plants: Dormant plants without soil, sized by height measurements
Container Plant Sizes
Container sizes indicate plant age and growing capacity rather than liquid volume equivalents. Our containers follow industry-standard nursery "trade gallon" specifications, which differ from standard liquid gallon measurements.
Young Plants (6 months to 18 months old)
Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
---|---|---|
2" x 2" x 3" | 0.18 - 0.21 dry quarts | 0.20 - 0.23 dry liters |
4" Container | 0.31 - 0.87 dry quarts | 0.35 - 0.96 dry liters |
4.5" Container | 0.65 dry quarts | 0.72 dry liters |
6" Container | 1.4 dry quarts | 1.59 dry liters |
1 Quart | 1 dry quart | 1.1 dry liters |
5.5" Container | 1.89 dry quarts | 2.08 dry liters |
Established Plants (18 months to 2.5 years old)
Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
---|---|---|
2 Quart | 2 dry quarts | 2.2 dry liters |
#1 Container | 2.26 - 3.73 dry quarts | 2.49 - 4.11 dry liters |
5" x 5" x 12" | 3.5 - 4.3 dry quarts | 3.85 - 4.74 dry liters |
Mature Plants (2-4 years old)
Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
---|---|---|
#2 Container | 1.19 - 1.76 dry gallons | 5.24 - 7.75 dry liters |
#3 Container | 2.15 - 2.76 dry gallons | 8.14 - 12.16 dry liters |
Large Plants (3-5 years old)
Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
---|---|---|
#5 Container | 2.92 - 4.62 dry gallons | 12.86 - 20.35 dry liters |
#6 Container | 5.25 - 6.01 dry gallons | 23.12 - 26.42 dry liters |
#7 Container | 5.98 - 6.53 dry gallons | 26.34 - 28.76 dry liters |
Bare Root Plants
Bare root plants are sold by height from the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may exceed minimum height requirements.
Common Sizes:
- Trees: 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet
- Shrubs & Perennials: 1 foot, 18 inches, 2 feet
Important Notes
Container Volume Specifications
- Trade Gallon Standard: Our containers follow industry-standard "trade gallon" specifications established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z60.1) for nursery stock
- Volume Variations: Actual soil volume may vary due to plant root systems and growing medium settlement
- Age Indicators: Container size primarily indicates plant age and maturity rather than liquid volume equivalents
Growing Conditions
- Plant size can vary based on variety and growing conditions
- Container size helps indicate plant maturity and establishment level
- Larger containers generally mean more established root systems and faster landscape establishment
Seasonal Availability
- Bare root plants are available seasonally when dormant
- Container plants are available throughout the growing season
- Specific varieties may have limited availability in certain sizes
Questions?
For questions about specific plant sizes or availability, please contact our plant experts who can help you choose the right size for your landscape needs.
Plant Highlights
NC-1 Pawpaw Tree highlights at a glance!
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Brand
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Botanical Name
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Growing Zones9, 6, 7, 8, 5
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Mature Height
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Mature Spread
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Sun ExposureFull Sun
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Moisture
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Soil
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Growth RateMedium
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Fall Color
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Pollinator Required
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Pruning Time
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Bloom PeriodEarly Spring, Late Spring
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Harvest Time
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NativeYes
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FragrantYes

Growing Zones 5-9
Great All-Around Choice - NC-1 Pawpaw Tree!
- Very Sweet & Creamy
- Yellowish-Green Thin Skin
- Fantastic Smaller Size
- Early Ripening Variety
- Large Fruit
- High Pulp to Seed
- Reddish-Purple Bell-Shaped Blooms
- Butterflies Adore the Blossoms
- Cold Hardy
- Lemony Yellow Fall Color
- Good Production
- Disease & Insect Resistant
- Requires Pollinator Plant
The NC-1 Pawpaw (Asimina triloba 'NC-1') is an amazing choice for your garden or landscape, despite its sterile-sounding clinical name. But what makes it a superb Pawpaw is it ripens early, produces a large crop, resists the cold along with insects and disease!
Long before the earliest Europeans came to North America, Native Americans used the Pawpaw as part of the fall diet. Despite being very sweet in flavor and one of the northernmost members of the Custard-Apple family, it has been largely ignored by fruit producers. But that is coming to an end as many backyard gardeners are discovering this delicious and nutritious fruit!
Like many varieties, the NC-1 Pawpaw will give you large, oblong, round fruit with yellow-green skin. The NC-1's yellow flesh is very sweet with a smooth texture and rich flavor of banana, mango, and melon flavor.
Remove the thin skin and blend it into a delicious smoothie. You can also bake many delicious desserts like pies and cakes as well as churn them into fantastic ice cream!
They’re perfect for fresh eating, scooping the creamy yellow flesh right out of the skin, it’s custard-like all on its own - smooth and creamy! The large brown, shiny seeds are easy to remove and feature a high pulp-to-seed ratio.
Filled with tropical green leaves and an exotic look, these are lovely for highlighting your front, side and back yards as well as provide you and your family delicious fruit!
How to Use NC-1 Pawpaw Tree In The Landscape
The NC-1 Pawpaw flowers in the spring with lovely dark red to reddish-purple bell-shaped blossoms. You would be surprised by the number and variety of butterflies this variety attracts!
You will need to grow at least two Pawpaw varieties since they do not self-pollinate. If you want, however, you use a paintbrush and some patience to hand-pollinate yours. Or you can plant these in groupings with other Pawpaw trees, or create hedgerows for privacy and screening!
In addition, the fruit, this tree is delightfully attractive and will make for a wonderful shade tree.
Edible landscaping and dual-purpose landscaping suit these ornamental trees perfectly! Shade, privacy, fruit and a tropical feel from a hardy North American tree - all this and more are features of the versatile Pawpaw!
Remove the lower limbs and expose the trunks to create a great specimen tree with a lovely canopy. The long leaves provide great shade over seating and garden beds. Tuck one at the end of your foundation planting to soften your home’s corner while also adding a tropical finishing touch accent!
#ProPlantTips For Care
Plant in full sun for the largest crops, however, in nature the Pawpaw is an understory tree and can tolerate some shade as well! Plant in all of USDA growing zones 5 through 9, favoring morning sun and afternoon shade in the hottest of those zones.
Since the NC-1 Pawpaw was developed in Ontario, Canada, you can be sure that it will handle the cold that most winters can throw at you. This variety isn't picky about soil type, but try to plant it in well-drained soil with plenty of composted plant material and moisture.
The NC-1 Pawpaw is a good producer, so you can count on a sizable crop year after year. This small tree is not bothered by insects or disease, so no need to spray dangerous pesticides.
It's time to put NC-1 Pawpaw in your cart, along with its partner. Then, sit back and wait for your first delicious harvest of this sweet and delectable fruit! Head over to NatureHills.com today to include this unique American native fruit tree into your landscape before they sell out!