The Unique Fruit Tree You Can Even Grow In Clay Soil

Gardening in clay soil comes with challenges. Because of how sticky and heavy the clay is, the soil is prone to becoming compacted and waterlogged. You may find that some plants can't grow in your garden at all unless you heavily amend the soil. Fortunately, not all plants struggle in these conditions, and some trees and bushes even thrive in clay soil. One of the most amazing North American fruit trees handles it quite well — you can grow pawpaws (Asimina triloba) in clay soil.

Pawpaws are native to the eastern and central parts of the United States and southern Canada, and they thrive in USDA hardiness zones 5 through 9. While they grow best in well-draining but moist soil, they manage just fine in clay-heavy soils as well. In addition to providing delicious fruits, pawpaws are host plants for zebra swallowtail butterflies. They also make excellent shade trees, and because their height is unlikely to exceed 30 feet, they're a great option for smaller yards. However, be aware that if you want your pawpaw trees to produce fruit, you'll need to grow at least two trees of different cultivars.

In addition to their tolerance of clay-heavy soils, pawpaws are impressively adaptable to a variety of lighting conditions and can grow in everything from full sun to deep shade. Just make sure your soil is relatively acidic if you want your tree to thrive. If you're unsure if it is, you can measure the pH of your soil and amend it if necessary. Pawpaw trees are somewhat drought tolerant once established as well. In spring, provide your tree with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer. 

When you're ready to plant a pawpaw tree, you should be able to find them at nurseries that specialize in native plants or fruit trees. While a few pawpaw trees alone can add a lot to your yard, you could also add other plants that can tolerate clay soil. Because of how beneficial pawpaw trees are for zebra swallowtail butterflies, you may want to grow additional plants the butterflies love nearby. This can include shrubs like lilacs and dogbane, which are adored by the butterflies and grow well in clay.