Where to buy pawpaw trees
You can buy pawpaw trees two ways: by mail from a specialty nursery that ships, or in person from a local nursery. Below are 50 verified nurseries that ship pawpaw trees, plus a way to find sellers in your own state. Whichever you choose, plan to buy two genetically different trees, because a lone pawpaw will not set fruit.
Grafted or seedling: what to buy
The first decision is grafted versus seedling. A grafted tree is a known named variety, such as a Peterson selection or a KSU release, propagated onto a rootstock, so you know exactly what the fruit will be like and it bears a few years sooner. It costs more. A seedling is cheaper and genetically unique, which means its fruit is a bit of a gamble, fine if you have the space to grow several and select the best. For reliable fruit in a small yard, two different grafted varieties are the safe choice.
Either way, buy two. Pawpaws cannot pollinate themselves, so you need two genetically distinct trees close enough to cross. See pawpaw pollination for why, and the pawpaw tree for planting and care.
Nurseries that ship pawpaw trees
50 VERIFIEDThese verified nurseries ship pawpaw trees, so location matters less than availability. Many open ordering in winter for spring shipping and sell out, so order early. Each links to its directory entry, with the source and current notes.
- Beautiful Beginnings Nursery Kentucky
- Bob Wells Nursery at Sorelle Farms Texas
- Burnt Ridge Nursery and Orchards Washington
- Chestnut Hill Nursery Florida
- Clear Ridge Nursery Maryland
- Cold Stream Farm Michigan
- Cricket Hill Garden Connecticut
- Edgewood Nursery Maine
- Edible Landscaping Virginia
- Elmore Roots Nursery Vermont
- England's Orchard and Nursery Kentucky
- Food Forest Nursery Arkansas
- Forrest Keeling Nursery Missouri
- Hartmann's Plant Company Michigan
- Hidden Springs Nursery Tennessee
- Indiana Berry and Plant Co. Indiana
- Jung Seed Company Wisconsin
- Just Fruits and Exotics Florida
- Kentucky Division of Forestry State Nursery Kentucky
- Little Big Horn Nursery North Carolina
- Logee's Connecticut
- Missouri Department of Conservation State Forest Nursery Missouri
- Missouri Wildflowers Nursery Missouri
- Nature Hills Nursery Nebraska
- Needmore Trees Indiana
- Northwoods Wholesale Nursery Oregon
- One Green World Oregon
- Owl Creek Farm Oklahoma
- Pawpaw Farms Tennessee
- Peaceful Heritage Nursery Kentucky
- Perfect Circle Farm Vermont
- Perry Permaculture Michigan
- Pinelands Nursery and Supply New Jersey
- Planting Justice (formerly Rolling River Nursery) California
- Raemelton Farm Maryland
- Raintree Nursery Washington
- Restoring Eden Washington
- Rhedd Fruit Co. Louisiana
- Rock Bridge Trees Tennessee
- Schlabach's Nursery New York
- Silver Run Forest Farm Virginia
- Stark Bro's Missouri
- Trees of Joy Pennsylvania
- Tripple Brook Farm Massachusetts
- Trusty Farms South Carolina
- Twisted Tree Farm New York
- Ty Ty Nursery Georgia
- West Farm Nursery New Jersey
- Whitman Farms Oregon
- Willis Orchard Company Georgia
Find a nursery near you
BY STATEPrefer to pick up trees locally, or want a grower in your state? Browse the full directory of verified orchards, nurseries, and farm stores by state.
- Indiana 8
- Kentucky 8
- Maryland 8
- Michigan 8
- Missouri 8
- North Carolina 8
- New York 7
- Pennsylvania 7
- Ohio 6
- Georgia 5
- Massachusetts 5
- Tennessee 5
- New Jersey 4
- Virginia 4
- West Virginia 4
- Florida 3
- Illinois 3
- Oregon 3
- South Carolina 3
- Vermont 3
- Washington 3
- Wisconsin 3
- Arkansas 2
- California 2
- Connecticut 2
- Iowa 2
- Louisiana 2
- Texas 2
- Kansas 1
- Maine 1
- Nebraska 1
- Oklahoma 1
- Rhode Island 1
- Washington, D.C. 1
Buying fresh pawpaw fruit instead
If you want to eat a pawpaw rather than grow one, you are shopping for fruit, not trees. Ripe pawpaws rarely reach supermarkets because they bruise easily and last only days, so the fruit moves through growers and a few mail-order sellers instead. See where to buy pawpaw fruit for in-person sellers by state, the short list that ships fresh fruit or frozen pulp, and what it costs.
Common questions
Where can I buy a pawpaw tree?
The two routes are mail-order specialty nurseries that ship bare-root or potted trees, and local nurseries you visit in person. This page lists 50 verified nurseries that ship pawpaw trees, and our state directory covers local sellers. Buy two genetically different trees so they can cross-pollinate.
Should I buy a grafted pawpaw or a seedling?
A grafted, named variety gives you known fruit quality and bears a few years sooner, at a higher price. Seedlings are cheaper and more variable, which is fine if you have room to grow several and keep the best. For dependable fruit in a small yard, most people choose two different grafted named varieties.
How much does a pawpaw tree cost?
Seedlings are usually the least expensive, often in the low tens of dollars, while grafted named varieties cost more because they take skilled work and bear sooner. Prices vary widely by nursery, size, and variety, so compare a few of the listings before ordering.
When is the best time to buy and plant a pawpaw tree?
Most mail-order nurseries ship in the dormant season, so orders often open in winter for early-spring delivery, and popular varieties sell out. Plant in spring once the soil warms, keep the deep taproot intact, and give young trees some shade the first summer. See the pawpaw tree.
Do you need two pawpaw trees?
Yes, in almost every case. Pawpaws are self-incompatible, so a flower needs pollen from a genetically different tree, not another sucker off the same root. Buy two named varieties, or two unrelated seedlings, and plant them near each other.
Keep going
- Named pawpaw varieties: pick two to plant
- Can I grow a pawpaw? Check your ZIP first
- The pawpaw tree: planting and care
- Growing pawpaw from seed
Listings are drawn from PawpawMap's verified directory; each entry carries a last-verified date and a source. Availability changes season to season, so confirm stock with the nursery before ordering.
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