These small trees grow to reach about 25' in height and produce Americas largest native edible fruit! These trees will grow and produce in a wide range of conditions but do best with not too much sun and not too much shade as well as moist to wet conditions. The dark purpley red flowers emerge in the spring before the leaves. Although aestheticly pleasing with their velvety look, the scent is only desireable to flies and beetles that pollinate it. The delicious tropical tasting fruit starts to ripen and fall from trees in late August and through September. It is an important host plant for the Zebra Swallowtail. 
 
Native throughout most of NC. Click to see its range in North Carolina.
 
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