Plant in Spotlight - Paw Paw - An American Classic

The paw paw is native to Eastern, Southern, and Midwestern United States. 

It is the only temperate member of a tropical family of trees.

from npr.org

Scientific classification

Kingdom: Plantae

Order:  Magnoliales

Family:  Annonaceae

Genus:     Asimina

Species:       A. triloba

The paw paw is high in vitamin C, proteins, and anti-oxidants. 

from totallyangel.com

Where, oh where is pretty little Susie?
Where, oh where is pretty little Susie?
Where, oh where is pretty little Susie?
Way down yonder in the paw-paw patch.


Come on, boys [or girls, or kids], let’s go find her,
Come on, boys, let’s go find her,
Come on, boys, let’s go find her,
Way down yonder in the paw-paw patch.


Pickin’ up paw-paws, puttin’ ‘em in her pockets,
Pickin’ up paw-paws, puttin’ ‘em in her pockets,
Pickin’ up paw-paws, puttin’ ‘em in her pockets,
Way down yonder in the paw-paw patch.
-Traditional American Folk Song


You can even make paw paw wine.