A field guide to America's largest native fruit

PawpawMap

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NC-1 Pawpaw

Wild and Heirloom

NC-1 is a Wild and Heirloom variety, bred by R. Douglas Campbell, mid season, ripening in late summer to early fall.

Flavor
Sweet and full-flavored with an avocado-like consistency and little bitterness
Size
Large, 6-12 oz (170-340 g)
Seed
Fleshy (~6% seed by weight)
Ripening
Mid season, ripening in late summer to early fall
Productivity
Productive
Notes
Yellow flesh and skin; selected at the cold northern edge of the pawpaw range, so often recommended for cooler climates

What growers say

NC-1 pawpaw is a top pick for flavor among many growers; one calls it their favorite for taste, flavor and texture. The fruit is sweet and full-flavored with a firm, avocado-like consistency and little bitterness. Bred at the cold northern edge of the pawpaw range in Ontario, it is often recommended for cooler climates and ripens mid-season from late summer into early fall.

NC-1 is my favorite Pawpaw for flavor, taste, and texture so far.

Source

NC-1 is firm and has an avocado like consistency.

Source

Drawn from grower discussions on growingfruit.org

Where to buy NC-1 pawpaw trees

NC-1 pawpaw trees are in stock at 1 of the 7 nurseries PawpawMap confirmed as of Aug 9, 2026. 14 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

Edible Landscaping

Afton, VA

Grafted named varieties (sold out) plus Select seedling in stock; orders ship in ~2 weeks.

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

Logee's

Danielson, CT

Mail-order since 1892.

Nursery Ships

One Green World

Portland, OR

Ships seeds and plants to all 50 states; pawpaw varieties currently on email-when-available pre-order.

Nursery

Ort Family Farm

Bradford, NY

Pawpaw trees for spring pickup; 2026 varieties include Mango, Sunflower, and NC-1 (Canadian hardy), with many varieties selling out early; open by appointment.

Nursery Ships

Perry Permaculture

Perry, MI

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

Nursery Ships

Raintree Nursery

Morton, WA

Mail-order bare-root/potted; 18+ pawpaw varieties priced, currently sold out.

Nursery

Sleepy Gap Pawpaws

Arden, NC

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

PricingGrafted trees $45

Nursery Ships

Stark Bro's

Louisiana, MO

13 pawpaw varieties listed, currently out of stock (seasonal).

PricingFree shipping on orders $99+

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

Wild and Heirloom

Overleese

Mid to late season, ripening the first week of October in Michigan

Rich, full pawpaw flavor; long valued as a benchmark variety

Wild and Heirloom

Sunflower

Late season, ripening the first week of October in Michigan

Sweet and pleasant; a widely grown classic

Wild and Heirloom

Davis

Mid to late season, ripening the first week of October in Michigan

Good, mild pawpaw flavor

Wild and Heirloom

Taytwo

Late season, ripening around October 10 in Michigan

Mild, sweet pawpaw flavor

Wild and Heirloom

Pennsylvania Golden

Early season, ripening in late September

Classic, strong wild pawpaw flavor

Wild and Heirloom

Mango

Late season, September to October

Rich, candied-banana flavor with vivid orange-yellow pulp

Wild and Heirloom

Wells

Mid to late September

Reported sweet, but flavor and other traits are not authoritatively documented

Wild and Heirloom

Prolific

Late season, ripening the first week of October in Michigan

Sweet, yellow-fleshed fruit; sets heavily, often without hand pollination

Wild and Heirloom

Taylor

Late season, ripening the first week of October in Michigan

Mild pawpaw flavor; yellow flesh with green skin

Wild and Heirloom

Uncle Tom

Mid season, ripening mid-September in Indiana

Historic selection valued more for its place in pawpaw history than for documented flavor

Wild and Heirloom

Ketter

Early season

Mild but very rich flavor, neither insipid nor cloying; medium-yellow flesh

Wild and Heirloom

Dr. Potter

Late season

Mild flavor; rich yellow flesh

Wild and Heirloom

Buckman

Late to very late season

Mild flavor with white flesh

Wild and Heirloom

Wilson

Mid season, ripening in September in Kentucky

Sweet, banana-pear flavor with a custard texture

Wild and Heirloom

Halvin

Early season, ripening late August in Kentucky

Very sweet and smooth with no aftertaste and a hint of pineapple

Wild and Heirloom

IXL

Late season

Wild and Heirloom

Rebecca's Gold

Mid to late season, ripening September to October

Very sweet and richly flavored

Wild and Heirloom

Lynn's Favorite

Late season, ripening the second week of October in Michigan

Wild and Heirloom

Mary Foos Johnson

Late season, ripening the first week of October in Michigan

Wild and Heirloom

Sweet Alice

Late season, ripening in early October

Wild and Heirloom

Horn's White

Late season

Unusually white, creamy, very sweet flesh with coconut and cherimoya notes

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