Now is the time to find a delicious Hoosier delicacy fruit around Indiana

Editor’s note: This article was first published in 2023. We are republishing it as part of our fall coverage.

It’s fall and farmers markets are flush with fresh local apples and other produce, but one Hoosier delicacy — the pawpaw — remains rare at many farm stands.

To help Hoosiers find the largest native edible fruits in the U.S., which taste like a mashup of banana, pineapple and mango, we’ve dedicated this edition of Scrub Hub to answer:

How can Hoosiers find and identify pawpaw trees?

We’ve harvested information from a variety of sources and spoke with Andrew Reuter, who is assistant director of the DNR’s Division of Nature Preserves, to help you scout for pawpaws as they ripen in September and October.

Short Answer: Look for the large, almost oval leaves and potato-shaped fruit

Pawpaw trees can probably be found in every county in Indiana, so it’s a good bet you won’t have to travel too far to find some.

The fruits are ripe for picking from September through October.

Pawpaws: What you need to know about the ‘Hoosier banana’

The trees produce some of the biggest leaves in the forest compared to pretty much any other tree that would be growing nearby, Reuter said. The oval-like leaves have smooth edges and alternate along the branch.

“They are almost shaped like the big end of the paddle,” Reuter said.

The fruits are green and blend in well with the leaves and surrounding forests, but Reuter said they can get pretty large, with some he’s seen up to five inches. Fruits are usually clustered together and sometimes found high up in the tree.

One of the best ways to harvest them is give the tree a shake. But be careful so they don’t get bonked on your head.

Long Answer: Look for rich, moist soils in the understory

Pawpaw trees only grow about 25 feet tall, so they’re generally found in the understory.

You’ll want to look for trees that are at least 15 feet high or so, because the smaller less mature trees may not be fruiting.

If you can find a stream or low floodplain, you’ll have a good chance of spotting pawpaws, but Reuter said they’re also found on higher ground — particularly if the woods have a good deer population. Deer typically don’t eat pawpaw, providing the trees with plenty of energy to expand beyond those normally wet areas.

Pawpaw will share the typical rich and moist soils with spicebush, so if you can find those shrubs, pawpaw should be nearby, Reuter said. Bitternut hickory, buckeye and tulip poplar are other tree species that can be found in the same habitat pawpaw prefer.

The pawpaw trees are usually grow in clusters. The trees spread through root shoots, so those clusters are clones of each other. This means they won’t be able to pollinate without the help of outsiders like flies and beetles that are attracted to the fetid smell of the flowers, Reuter said.

Pawpaws can be harvested legally in any Indiana state park, Division of Fish and Wildlife and also Forestry properties. There are private nature preserves where foraging is prohibited, so make sure you know where you are and what you’re allowed to do before filling your pockets with pawpaws.

Indiana has no shortage of pawpaw, but Reuter advised to not get greedy and take all of the fruit found in a tree or cluster of trees. Those are the future generations of the tree and animals will help spread the seeds.

Reuter couldn’t pin down the best state park to find pawpaws because they’re just so prevalent, but he did say there are certain times he’s gone out hunting pawpaw and left empty handed. Like most hunting and foraging expeditions, nothing is ever guaranteed.

But given the widespread populations of pawpaw, it probably won’t take too many trips to find some fruit.

“It literally is one of most common understory species,” Reuter said.

Karl Schneider is an IndyStar environment reporter. You can reach him at karl.schneider@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @karlstartswithk

IndyStar’s environmental reporting project is made possible through the generous support of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.

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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: What to know about pawpaws and finding their fruit in Indiana