Description
Taylor is a long-established American pawpaw cultivar appreciated for its traditional eating quality and balanced characteristics. Rather than chasing extremes, it delivers a familiar pawpaw experience that many growers recognize and trust.
The fruit is typically medium to medium-large with yellow flesh and a classic flavor profile. When fully ripe, Taylor develops a soft, custard-like texture and a banana-forward taste accented by mild tropical notes. It’s approachable and familiar rather than intense or experimental.
Ripening falls mid-season within the pawpaw range, allowing Taylor to fit easily between earlier and later cultivars. Its steady timing and traditional character make it a reliable choice in mixed plantings and a useful partner for cross-pollination.
Overview
- Traditional American pawpaw cultivar
- Medium to medium-large fruit with yellow flesh
- Classic, balanced pawpaw flavor profile
- Soft, custard-like texture at ripeness
- Pollination required for reliable fruit set
Growing Details
Latin Name: Asimina triloba ’Taylor’
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 5–Sept 18 in Frankfort, KY (varies by region)
Fruit Weight: Medium to medium-large; varies by season and crop load
Seed Content: Moderate; typical of traditional pawpaw cultivars (varies by season and crop load)
Texture Class: Soft custard (smooth, fully soft at ripeness)
Pollination: Pollination required; plant a genetically distinct pawpaw variety within 20–30 feet
Pests & Diseases: Generally low disease pressure with good airflow and moisture management
Yield: Moderate once established
Additional Notes
- Grower’s Insight: Taylor is appreciated for its familiar flavor and dependable mid-season timing—an easy cultivar to live with rather than one built around extremes.
- Regional Insight: Taylor’s mid-season ripening allows it to perform across a wide range of pawpaw-growing regions without pushing early or late-season limits.
- Harvest only at full softness for proper flavor and texture development.
- Soft texture at ripeness means fruit is best enjoyed fresh or processed promptly.
- Explore more pawpaw varieties in our collection: Pawpaw Trees
