Asimina obovata (Willd.) Nash — Bigflower pawpaw

Introduction

Bigflower pawpaw (Asimina obovata) is a deciduous Florida-endemic shrub of scrub, sandhills, dry hammocks, and other well-drained sandy habitats. It belongs to the Parviflora Clade and is among the most conspicuous southern pawpaws when in bloom: the large pale flowers are often sweetly fragrant, while new shoots and flower-bearing growth can be marked by dense bright reddish hairs. (Kral, 1960; Flora of North America, 1997).

The species is a parent of two accepted named hybrids, A. × oboreticulata with A. reticulata and A. × colorata with A. pygmaea.

Horticultural and Agricultural Uses

Bigflower pawpaw is occasionally cultivated as a native understory or specimen shrub for its flowers, foliage, and ecological value. The Florida Native Plant Society lists it for full sun to part sun on sandy soils and notes that it is difficult to transplant because of its long taproot. Seed propagation or minimally disturbed nursery stock is therefore preferable to moving established plants. The fruit is edible, but the species is not developed as a commercial fruit crop. (Florida Native Plant Society, 2026).

Conservation Concerns

Conservation assessments differ in emphasis. The IUCN assessment carried by Kew treats A. obovata as Least Concern, while NatureServe assigns it G3 (Vulnerable) and notes that the 2009 global rank needs review. NatureServe regards the species as endemic to Florida, where it occurs in several dry habitat types and can be locally abundant. The contrast reflects the difference between a broad extinction-risk category and a rarity-oriented conservation rank rather than a direct taxonomic conflict. (NatureServe, 2026; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, 2026).

Additional Information

Plants of the World Online: Plants of the World Online (opens in a new tab) - Accepted taxon and IUCN category.
NatureServe Explorer: NatureServe Explorer (opens in a new tab) - Global conservation rank and habitat information.
Florida Native Plant Society: Florida Native Plant Society (opens in a new tab) - Regional ecology and horticulture.

References and Further Reading

Kral, R. 1960. A revision of Asimina and Deeringothamnus (Annonaceae). Brittonia 12: 233-278. DOI: 10.2307/2805119 (opens in a new tab).

Flora of North America Editorial Committee. 1997. Asimina. Flora of North America North of Mexico, vol. 3. Link (opens in a new tab)

NatureServe. 2026. Asimina obovata. NatureServe Explorer. Link (opens in a new tab)

Florida Native Plant Society. 2026. Asimina obovata plant account. Link (opens in a new tab)

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2026. Asimina obovata. Plants of the World Online. Link (opens in a new tab)