# Small-Flower Pawpaw (*asimina parviflora*) The Small-Flower Pawpaw (Asimina parviflora) is a charming, deciduous understory shrub native to the pine forests and dry oak woodlands of the southeastern United States. Unlike its larger relative, the common pawpaw, this species grows as a multi-stemmed dwarf shrub, typically reaching heights of just one to three meters. It is highly valued for its ecological role, acting as an essential host plant for the spectacular zebra swallowtail butterfly and providing seasonal nourishment to various woodland creatures with its small, sweet, fleshy fruits. In early spring, before its leaves fully unfold, the plant produces intriguing dark purple to maroon flowers that emit a faint, yeasty odor to attract carrion-loving insect pollinators. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 4 - **Habitat:** Found in dry to moist sandy pine flatwoods, oak-hickory understories, and coastal plain forests of the southeastern United States. ![Small-Flower Pawpaw](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/111810609/medium.jpg) Photo: Douglas Goldman, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/111810609) ## Appearance This slender, multi-stemmed shrub features dark green, obovate leaves that are smooth on top and covered in rusty, pubescent hairs underneath when young. In spring, it produces small, inconspicuous, three-petaled flowers that transition from greenish-yellow to deep maroon, measuring only 1 to 2 centimeters across. The resulting fruits are oblong, greenish-yellow berries, roughly 3 to 7 centimeters long, which grow in small clusters and turn dark brown or blackish when fully ripe in late summer. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Magnoliales - **Family:** Annonaceae - **Genus:** Asimina ## Interesting facts - Despite belonging to the mostly tropical Annonaceae family, this species is highly cold-hardy and well-adapted to temperate climates. - Its scientific name 'parviflora' translates directly to 'small-flowered' in Latin. - The leaves of the Small-Flower Pawpaw emit a distinct scent reminiscent of green bell peppers or gasoline when crushed. ## Special abilities - **Carrion Mimicry:** Flowers produce a faint yeasty odor and dark maroon coloration to trick sap beetles and carrion flies into visiting and pollinating them. - **Chemical Defense:** Foliage contains insecticidal compounds called acetogenins, which deter generalist herbivores while protecting specialized caterpillars that eat them. - **Shade Tolerance:** Thrives in the dense understory of pine and hardwood forests by efficiently capturing filtered sunlight with its broad leaves. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 100-300 cm - **Lifespan:** 15-30 years - **Incubation:** 60-100 days ## Diet & Feeding As a photosynthetic plant, it produces its own energy from sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide while absorbing minerals from the soil. - **Primary Foods:** Sunlight, Water, Carbon dioxide, Soil nutrients - **Foraging Method:** Photosynthesis ## Ecological connections - **Host plant:** [Zebra Swallowtail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/zebra-swallowtail) (*Protographium marcellus*) — The leaves of this shrub serve as the exclusive larval food source for zebra swallowtail caterpillars. - **Eaten by:** Virginia Opossum (*Didelphis virginiana*) — Opossums forage on the ground for the fallen, sweet, custard-like fruits of this plant. - **Mutualism:** Dusky Sap Beetle (*Carpophilus lugubris*) — Attracted by the yeasty aroma of the flowers, these beetles feed on pollen and aid in cross-pollination. ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Small-Flower Pawpaw? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Small-Flower Pawpaw? 100-300 cm ### How long does Small-Flower Pawpaw live? 15-30 years ### What does Small-Flower Pawpaw eat? As a photosynthetic plant, it produces its own energy from sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide while absorbing minerals from the soil. ### Where is Small-Flower Pawpaw usually found? Found in dry to moist sandy pine flatwoods, oak-hickory understories, and coastal plain forests of the southeastern United States. ### How does Small-Flower Pawpaw hunt? Photosynthesis ### How long do Small-Flower Pawpaw eggs take to hatch? 60-100 days ## Where to spot - [Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/alfred-b-maclay-gardens-state-park) — Florida, US · Botanical Garden - [Audubon Place Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/audubon-place-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Downtown Tuscaloosa Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/downtown-tuscaloosa-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Fort Caroline](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-caroline) — Florida, US · National Park - [Gorgas-Manly Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gorgas-manly-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Campus - [Savannah–Ogeechee Canal](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/savannah-ogeechee-canal) — Georgia, US · Historic Site [View all places to see Small-Flower Pawpaw](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/small-flower-pawpaw) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Small-Flower Pawpaw: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/small-flower-pawpaw)