Description
Allegheny is an early-season pawpaw selected for eating quality rather than size. It tends to set well and produce reliably, making it a steady presence in a mixed pawpaw planting.
When fully ripe, the flesh is smooth and custard-like with a medium-firm texture that holds together cleanly. The flavor is sweet and rich, finished with a subtle citrus brightness that keeps the fruit lively rather than heavy.
Allegheny isn’t about extremes. It earns its place through clarity of flavor, dependable timing, and a composed eating experience that often arrives weeks before later-ripening varieties.
Overview
- Early-ripening pawpaw selected for flavor and consistency
- Smooth, custard-like texture with medium firmness
- Sweet flavor profile with a citrus lift
- Moderate fruit size with good eating quality
- Requires cross-pollination for consistent fruit set
Growing Details
Latin Name: Asimina triloba ‘Allegheny’
Site and Soil: 1/2 day to full day of sun; well-drained soil
Hardiness: Hardy to USDA Zone 5
Rootstock: Grafted onto pawpaw rootstock
Bearing Age: 3–5 years after planting
Size at Maturity: Typically 15–25 ft tall and wide; can be maintained smaller with pruning
Bloom Time: Mid-spring
Ripening Time: Early within pawpaw varieties; late summer (varies by region)
Fruit Weight: More commonly ~4–7 oz per fruit; occasionally larger with light crop load (varies by site and season)
Seed Content: Approximately ~8% by weight (varies by season)
Texture Class: Smooth, custard-like; medium-firm and cohesive at full ripeness
Pollination: Pollination required; plant a genetically distinct pawpaw within 20–30 feet
Pests & Diseases: Generally low disease pressure with good airflow and moisture management
Yield: Good; sets generously and may benefit from thinning for fruit size
Additional Notes
- Grower’s Insight: Allegheny is often appreciated for how early it ripens—when it’s ready, most pawpaws are still weeks away.
- Regional Insight: In cool-summer regions like the Puget Sound, planting in as much sun as possible helps support steady growth and timely ripening.
- Harvest fruit only when fully ripe; underripe pawpaws won’t develop full texture or flavor.
- Fruit is delicate and highly perishable—handle gently and plan to use or process soon after harvest.
- Explore more pawpaw varieties in our collection: Pawpaw Trees
