Hello Gardeners, I’m Amanda McNulty with Clemson Extension. Some plants are casual about pollination and the subsequent fertilization of ovules that leads to fruit and seeds – they have male and female parts in the same flower that mature at the same time. Paw paws, however, are decidedly picky about the process of seed making. First of all, although the flowers are perfect with male and female parts, the don’t mature at the same time and – to further reduce the chance of self-fertilization -- they are self-incompatible, requiring pollen transfer from a completely unrelated pawpaw tree. When the tips of the female flower pistils are green and sticky, they are receptive, ready for pollen. Look for male flowers on an unrelated tree with brownish pollen on the anthers and collect it with a small artist’s paint brush and transfer it to the receptive female flowers. You’ll be rewarded with soft, yellow, custardy fruits with a tropical flavor.
Paw Paw Trees are Picky About Pollen
