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Asimina obovata
Bigflower Pawpaw
Flag Pawpaw
Florida native
Endemic to Florida
Asimina obovata is found primarily in scrub habitats, but also in scrubby flatwoods, dry sand ridges and occasionally in xeric hammocks. The entire range is the the central and northern peninsula of Florida.
Bigflower pawpaw can be a shrub or small tree growing to 3 meters or more. The flowers & fruit form at the terminous of stems and on short, red-pubescent lateral shoots. There are 3 sepals and 6 white or greenish white petals. The 3 inner petals have maroon corrugated bases. Flowers appear from March through May, opening after the emergence of the current season's leaves.
Another common name for this plant is flag pawpaw, a name that is also sometimes used for Asimina reticulata.
More information, including details on reproduction and pollinators can be found at the Archbold Biological Station website.
Bigflower Pawpaw is the subject of the March 2016 Paul Rebmann Nature Photography blog post.
Asimina obovata is a member of the Annonaceae - Custard-apple family.
Other species of the Asimina genus in the Wild Florida Photo database:
Asimina angustifolia - SLIMLEAF PAWPAW
Asimina incana - WOOLLY PAWPAW
Asimina manasota - MANASOTA PAWPAW
Asimina parviflora - SMALLFLOWER PAWPAW
Asimina pygmaea - DWARF PAWPAW
Asimina reticulata - NETTED PAWPAW
Asimina spatulata - LAKE JACKSON PAWPAW
Asimina tetramera - FOURPETAL PAWPAW
Asimina triloba - COMMON PAWPAW
Asimina x nashii -
Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants (Institute for Systemic Botany) profile for this species
USDA Plant Profile for this species
Date record last modified: Mar 31, 2020
