Asimina parviflora aka Dwarf Pawpaw

Asimina parviflora, also known as the Smallflower Pawpaw, is a small to medium-sized deciduous shrub in the custard apple family. It is native to the southeastern United States and can be found in dry pine or oak forests, thickets, floodplains, woodland slopes, and bottomland hardwood forests. Its young shoots and leaves are covered with a rusty down that later becomes smooth. The shrub generally grows to be 6-8 feet tall and has alternately arranged leaves that are simple, obovate or oblanceolate to oblong, entire, pointed at the tip, and up to 8 inches long. The small brownish-purple, six-petaled flowers are borne singly in leaf axils before leaf emergence and have a slightly bad odor. The fruit of the Dwarf Pawpaw is smaller than other pawpaws but is edible off the tree or used in cooking. More than one genetic strain is needed for best fruit set. Its leaves are the only plant the beautiful zebra swallowtail butterfly caterpillars will eat. However, parviflora responds negatively to soil disturbance by clearcutting and chopping in North Florida flatwoods forests. This species prefers loose, moist to dry, well-drained soils in partial shade. As it matures and establishes, it will tolerate full sun. Pawpaws need some babying to establish but are worth the effort. They work well as understory trees in an open woodland setting and provide wildlife with food- and you too if you can get there first. Smallflower Pawpaw is a super rare houseplant that is not challenging to grow and needs regular watering to thrive. They do best in long-lasting, direct light and should be less than 1 foot from a window. Smallflower Pawpaw likes soil that is well-draining. Your plant shouldn't need added fertilizers if you repot each time it doubles in size. Smallflower Pawpaw belongs to the Asimina genus and is native to the southeastern United States.