A field guide to America's largest native fruit

PawpawMap

We're putting pawpaws on the map!

Summer Delight Pawpaw

England's Orchard Introductions

Summer Delight is a England's Orchard Introductions variety, bred by Woody Walker, very early season, ripening late July into early August, the first to ripen in the breeder's Kentucky orchard.

Flavor
Delicious, smooth-textured flesh with few seeds and a mild aftertaste
Size
Medium-large, 8-12 oz (225-340 g)
Seed
Fleshy
Ripening
Very early season, ripening late July into early August, the first to ripen in the breeder's Kentucky orchard
Productivity
Not precocious, taking four to five years to come into production, but worth the wait
Notes
Noted for being early-ripening, which suits the northern cusp of the growing range. Thick, yellow-tinted skin that ships and stores well.

What growers say

Summer Delight pawpaw is one of the earliest varieties to ripen, finishing in the last week of July into early August, which suits the northern cusp of the growing range. The smooth-textured flesh has few seeds and a mild aftertaste, and one grower rated it among the best pawpaws they have tasted. The trade-off growers note is patience, as the tree takes four to five years to come into production.

I tasted Summer Delight this past year and it was amongst the best pawpaws I have tasted.

Source

Drawn from grower discussions on growingfruit.org

Where to buy Summer Delight pawpaw trees

Summer Delight pawpaw trees are in stock at 1 of the 2 nurseries PawpawMap confirmed as of Aug 9, 2026. 4 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.

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 Champion

Very early season, the earliest-bearing commercial cultivar

Sweet with a subtle tartness likened to pineapple or raspberry; firm, golden-orange flesh with a melon note and a pleasant lingering aftertaste

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

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