Description
Sunflower is a classic American pawpaw selection—found in Kansas and kept in circulation because it produces. It’s one of the most widely planted named pawpaws for growers who want dependable harvests without needing a finicky, high-maintenance tree to get there.
When it’s fully ripe, Sunflower delivers the flavor people hope pawpaw will taste like: sweet, tropical, and rich, with yellow, spoonable flesh. This isn’t a fruit you judge underripe—Sunflower shines when it softens, becomes aromatic, and the pulp scoops cleanly.
In Kentucky State University reporting, Sunflower is commonly cited around 5.5 oz per fruit on average, and seed content is reported around 8.6% by weight. It’s also widely reported as partially self-fertile—able to set some fruit alone—but most growers see better, more consistent crops with another variety planted close by.
Overview
- Widely grown, dependable pawpaw with a long track record
- Sweet tropical flavor and rich yellow flesh at full ripeness
- Large fruit; average reported around 5.5 oz
- Seed content reported around 8.6% by weight
- Reported to set some fruit alone; yields improve with cross-pollination
Growing Details
Latin Name: Asimina triloba ‘Sunflower’
Site and Soil: 1/2 day to full day of sun; well-drained soil
Chill Requirement: Not typically expressed in chill hours for pawpaws; performs best in temperate regions with warm summers
Hardiness: USDA Zone 5–8
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: Mid within pawpaw varieties; typically Sept 8–Sept 20 in Frankfort, KY (varies by region)
Fruit Weight: Average reported ~5.5 oz per fruit (varies by season and crop load)
Seed Content: Reported ~8.6% seed by weight (varies by growing conditions)
Texture Class: Classic custard (soft, spoonable at full ripeness)
Pollination: Reported to set some fruit alone; yields improve with a genetically distinct pawpaw variety within 20–30 feet
Pests & Diseases: Generally low disease pressure with good airflow and moisture management
Yield: Dependable producer once established
Additional Notes
- Grower’s Insight: Sunflower is a “harvest rhythm” pawpaw—check fruit daily in season, let it soften indoors, and judge it only at full ripeness. That’s when the flavor and texture show up.
- Regional Insight: In cooler-summer regions like the Puget Sound, plant pawpaws in as much sun as you can give them—more sun drives stronger growth and improves your odds of finishing fruit quality cleanly.
- Heritage Note: Selected from the wild near Chanute, Kansas (1970) and widely shared for its reliability and production.
- Even when a cultivar is reported to set fruit alone, a nearby partner typically increases fruit size, consistency, and overall yield.
- Explore more pawpaw varieties in our collection: Pawpaw Trees
