Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

polecat bush, flag pawpaw, woolly pawpaw

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Asimina incana

Family:

Annonaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

shrub

Size:

4 - 6 ft tall by 3 - 5 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white

Fruit Color:

green

Phenology:

deciduous

Noted For:

Showy Flowers

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Specimen shrub.

Considerations:

May be difficult to establish because of its long tap root.

Availability:

Seed

Propagation:

Usually grown from nursery stock. Difficult to transplant, minimize root disturbance and keep moist until established. Can be grown from seed.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

-|----|----|----|----|----|----|---- <--------------------> --|-

Not wet but not extremely dry ---to--- Very long very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand

Soil pH:

acidic to neutral

Suitable to Grow In:

8B,9A

Ecology

Wildlife:

Caterpillars, Birds, Mammals

The flowers produce an odor similar to rotting meat to attract blowflies or carrion beetles for cross pollination.





Larval host for zebra swallowtail ( Eurytides marcellus ) and pawpaw sphinx ( Dolba hyloeus ).

Small mammals and birds harvest the fruit.

Native Habitats:

sandhills, flatwoods, scrubby flatwoods

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

Edible fruits.

General Comments: