Description
Prolific is a pawpaw cultivar selected specifically for productivity—when it’s happy, it earns its name. It’s a strong option for growers who want a tree that leans toward fruit set and consistent harvests rather than chasing the very largest fruit or the most niche flavor nuance.
The fruit has yellow flesh and a classic pawpaw eating character—rich, tropical, and dessert-like when fully ripe. This is the kind of pawpaw that shines when you harvest daily in season, let fruit soften indoors, and eat it with a spoon or turn it into frozen pulp for smoothies, ice cream, and baking.
In established plantings, Prolific is late-season relative to many pawpaw cultivars, lining up well for growers who want to extend pawpaw harvest deeper into the season. Kentucky State University notes ripening in the first week of October in Michigan, which supports its “later” reputation. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
Overview
- Productive pawpaw cultivar valued for heavy bearing once established
- Yellow-fleshed fruit with classic, rich pawpaw flavor
- Late within pawpaw varieties; typically late summer into early fall (varies by region)
- Pollination required; plant a compatible pawpaw within 20–30 feet
- A practical choice for growers who prioritize consistent yields
Growing Details
Latin Name: Asimina triloba ‘Prolific’
Site and Soil: 1/2 day to full day of sun; well-drained soil with consistent moisture during establishment
Chill Requirement: Estimated 400–1000 hours (pawpaw chilling is not definitively quantified and varies by selection)
Hardiness: USDA Zone 5–8
Rootstock: Grafted onto pawpaw rootstock
Bearing Age: 3–5 years after planting
Size at Maturity: Typically 12–20 ft tall and 8–12 ft wide (can be managed with pruning)
Bloom Time: Mid-season (varies by region)
Ripening Time: Late within pawpaw varieties; typically late summer to early fall in Frankfort, KY (varies by region)
Fruit Weight: Commonly in the medium range in trials; occasional larger fruit reported depending on site and season
Seed Content: Not consistently published for this cultivar in the most-used university summary tables; many named cultivars commonly fall in the ~4–8% seed-by-weight range in KSU-reported data (varies by cultivar and growing conditions)
Pollination: Pollination required; plant a compatible pawpaw variety within 20–30 feet
Pests & Diseases: Generally low-spray; protect young trees from stress and keep growth steady for best establishment
Yield: Heavy bearing once established
Additional Notes
- Grower’s Insight: Prolific earns its keep when you want fruit set and consistency—plan on harvesting frequently in season and letting fruit soften indoors for peak eating quality.
- Regional Insight: In cooler-summer regions like the Puget Sound, prioritize sun and heat capture (not shade) to help the tree ripen wood and finish fruit cleanly.
- If you’re in a cool/wet spring region, pollinator flight can be limited during bloom—multiple compatible pawpaws within 20–30 feet often improves set.
- Explore more pawpaws in our collection: Pawpaw Trees
