A field guide to America's largest native fruit

PawpawMap

We're putting pawpaws on the map!

Kentucky Champion Pawpaw

England's Orchard Introductions

Kentucky Champion is a England's Orchard Introductions variety, bred by Cliff England, very early season, the earliest-bearing commercial cultivar.

Flavor
Sweet with a subtle tartness likened to pineapple or raspberry; firm, golden-orange flesh with a melon note and a pleasant lingering aftertaste
Size
Large, about 8 oz (230 g)
Seed
Moderate seed (~8% seed by weight)
Ripening
Very early season, the earliest-bearing commercial cultivar
Productivity
Remarkably resilient and reported to be self-fertile; responds well to grafting
Notes
Skin is attractive and durable and resists bruising and dark spots; a strong candidate for climates short on growing-degree-days

What growers say

Kentucky Champion pawpaw is bred above all for early ripening, described by its breeder as the earliest-bearing of the commercially available cultivars, with a sweet, pineapple-or-raspberry tartness and firm golden-orange flesh. Grower experience tempers that billing: some report problems with pollination and fruit they rate good but not top tier, and others say their trees have not yet fruited. Its very early, durable, bruise-resistant fruit makes it a candidate for climates short on growing-degree-days.

KYC is not really a good orchard tree from what I've heard other than for a season extender. It has problems with pollination and the fruit is good but not top tier.

Source

My Kentucky champions have not fruited so far, so cannot comment on that one.

Source

Drawn from grower discussions on growingfruit.org

Where to buy Kentucky Champion pawpaw trees

Kentucky Champion pawpaw trees are in stock at 1 of the 2 nurseries PawpawMap confirmed as of Aug 9, 2026. 5 nurseries ship this variety.

Each line shows the date PawpawMap last confirmed that seller's stock. Spot a listing that is wrong? Tell us and we will fix it.

Nursery Ships

England's Orchard and Nursery

McKee, KY

Grafted pawpaw trees are local pickup only; pawpaw seeds and scionwood available by mail.

Online Ships

Fruitwood Nursery

Orleans, CA

Family permaculture nursery on the Klamath River; mail-orders roughly 39 named pawpaw scionwood cultivars (Mango, Davis, Lehmans Choice, Potomac, Susquehanna and more) with live stock counts.

Nursery Ships

Perry Permaculture

Perry, MI

Grafted pawpaw trees ship in fall (~October); one of two MI Peterson-pawpaw licensees.

Nursery

Sleepy Gap Pawpaws

Arden, NC

Grafted Peterson/KSU trees; sells out fast each season.

PricingGrafted trees $45

Nursery Ships

West Farm Nursery

Branchburg, NJ

Grafted Peterson and KSU pawpaw cultivars, pickup from mid-June; some trees sold or shipped via eBay; hosts NOFA-NJ workshops.

Pricing$110 to $160

Related cultivars

England's Orchard Introductions

Kentucky Legend

Mid to late season

Very good, similar to Sunflower, with a firm texture

England's Orchard Introductions

Tropical Treat

Early season, ripening mid-August in Kentucky

Tastes like mango with a hint of pineapple; widely regarded as one of the best-tasting pawpaws on the market

England's Orchard Introductions

Summer Delight

Very early season, ripening late July into early August, the first to ripen in the breeder's Kentucky orchard

Delicious, smooth-textured flesh with few seeds and a mild aftertaste

England's Orchard Introductions

Marshmallow

Mid season

Tropical melon-like flavor with a trace of banana; the sweetest of the three freestones

England's Orchard Introductions

Honeydew

Mid season

Tropical melon-like flavor that can taste similar to a honeydew melon, with a trace of banana

England's Orchard Introductions

Cantaloupe

Mid season

Tropical melon-like flavor that tastes as the name suggests, with a trace of banana

England's Orchard Introductions

Mango x Wabash

Early season, ripening late August to early September in Kentucky

Firm flesh with a strong yellow color break and a color similar to Wabash

Last updated