The pawpaw (Asimina triloba) is a favored, if delicate, fruit. The relatively short tree, growing to 35 feet, prefers shady areas, like the under- and midstory of a forest. This actually makes it a great plant to grow under other trees, even pine, and with its broad leaves, adds more green to a yard. There are at least 14 species of caterpillars that feed on the pawpaw, though some are limited to a more southerly range, such as the zebra swallowtail, which feeds exclusively on the pawpaw as a caterpillar. However, while the range map is hosted by the USDA, the USDA also has range maps that exclude New York, Canada, and most of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Though with climate change, this map surely will be the more accurate one sooner or later.
The pawpaw fruit is sweet, often described as a combination of banana and mango, or sometimes pineapple. It is, as stated, delicate, meaning it has little shelf-life of 2-3 days at room temperature or a week in the refrigerator. Pawpaws apparently can sometimes self-reproduce, but are often dioecious, so be prepared to have more than one to produce fruit. Also, they do grow through suckers, which is a boon or a curse depending on one’s outlook, but they are not difficult to remove.
Map Source:
USDA Plants Profile
Photo Credit:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10830