Asimina pygmaea
Dwarf pawpaw
Synonyms
- Annona pygmaea W.Bartram
- Orchidocarpum pygmaeum (W.Bartram) Michx.
- Pityothamnus pygmaeus (W.Bartram) Small
- Porcelia pygmaea (W.Bartram) Pers.
- Unona pygmaea (W.Bartram) Walp.
- Uvaria pygmaea (W.Bartram) Torr. & A.Gray
- Asimina secundiflora Shuttlew. ex Chapm.
On this page
Introduction
Dwarf pawpaw (Asimina pygmaea) is a low, deciduous shrub of Florida and adjacent Georgia, characteristic of flatwoods, sandhills, scrub, old fields, and related open habitats. It gives its name to the Pygmaea Clade. Mature plants are often only a few decimeters tall, with arching or decumbent shoots and maroon to red flowers. (Flora of North America, 1997; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, 2026).
The species is a parent of the accepted hybrids A. × colorata with A. obovata and A. × kralii with A. incana. Putative natural hybridization with A. rugelii has also been reported. (Norman, 2003; DeLaney, 2010).
Horticultural and Agricultural Uses
Dwarf pawpaw is of interest in native-plant and conservation horticulture rather than agriculture. Its compact stature suits specialized naturalistic plantings, but site conditions matter: the Florida Native Plant Society associates it with slash- and longleaf-pine flatwoods, sandhills, scrub, and some disturbed sites. Published propagation guidance specific to the species remains limited.
Conservation Concerns
NatureServe assigns A. pygmaea a global rank of G4 (Apparently Secure), but the underlying global review dates to 1995 and is flagged as needing review. The species is not federally listed. Because many occupied habitats are fire-influenced, persistence of open vegetation structure remains ecologically relevant even where the species itself is not currently considered globally threatened. (NatureServe, 2025).
Additional Information
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Plants of the World Online: Plants of the World Online (opens in a new tab) - Accepted taxon and distribution.
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NatureServe Explorer: NatureServe Explorer (opens in a new tab) - Conservation rank; NatureServe uses the spelling Asimina pygmea.
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Florida Native Plant Society: Florida Native Plant Society (opens in a new tab) - Regional habitat summary.
References and Further Reading
Norman, E.M. 2003. Reproductive biology of Deeringothamnus rugelii and D. pulchellus (Annonaceae). Taxon 52: 547-555. DOI: 10.2307/3647453 (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. 2025. Asimina pygmea. NatureServe Explorer. Link (opens in a new tab)
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2026. Asimina pygmaea. Plants of the World Online. Link (opens in a new tab)