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Introduction
Piedmont pawpaw (Asimina × piedmontana) is the accepted natural hybrid between A. parviflora and A. triloba. It is the best documented of the named pawpaw hybrids, described by Horn from morphological and ecological evidence. Tree TSAR places it under Interclade Hybrids because its parents belong to the Parviflora and Triloba clades. Plants of the World Online records the hybrid from Alabama and South Carolina. (Horn, 2015; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, 2026).
Horn (2015) found the hybrid intermediate between the parents in several floral characters. Populations can be clonal and generally remain shorter than mature A. triloba, while flowers and peduncles are larger than in A. parviflora.
Horticultural and Agricultural Uses
Piedmont pawpaw has no established commercial use. It is nevertheless of horticultural interest because it combines characters of a widespread tree-forming species with those of a smaller southeastern relative. Published experience remains too limited to treat it as an established landscape or fruit crop.
Conservation Concerns
No independent formal conservation rank was located. Because the hybrid arises where A. parviflora and A. triloba overlap, conservation is best considered through the integrity of those parent populations and their natural contact zones.
Additional Information
- Plants of the World Online: Plants of the World Online (opens in a new tab) - Accepted hybrid, parentage, and distribution.
References and Further Reading
Horn, C.N. 2015. A new hybrid of Asimina (Annonaceae) based on morphological and ecological data. Castanea 80: 262-272. DOI: 10.2179/15-067 (opens in a new tab).
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2026. Asimina × piedmontana. Plants of the World Online. Link (opens in a new tab)