Viewing post #251611 by TomNJ

Jill said:Tom,

We had Pawpaw wild where I grew up. They grew alongside redbuds in a truly understory location. They would sprout and grow to fruit stage underneath mature stands of elm, hackberry and hickory. We didn't have maples in my part of Missouri much. They didn't grow much where it was brushy or in a dense thicket, but in open woods where the mature trees were spaced out a bit - they were mostly in shade with a dappled sun effect. We went to the woods to search for Morel mushrooms in the second week in April, and the Pawpaws were blooming with their little brown tulip blossoms, and the redbuds blooms were sharing space with tiny heart shaped leaves at that time of year. Pawpaws didn't grow much more than 8 feet tall - and I never saw one with a large trunk - maybe a 3 inch diameter max. Best of luck with your Pawpaws!

Jill,

Thanks for the input. The place I have in mind is at the end of my drain field, in the bottom land. In the pictures that follow, you will see that the property comes to a point past the end of the septic mound. It is quite open back there, but lots of old growth trees on both sides.



This picture is a little better. This was taken before we had the septic done. This is looking right into the point that is at the end of the septic field. It is a large area that receives dappled shade during the day and direct sun late in the day.