Four-petal Pawpaw

Listed as endangered by the United States and state of Florida, the attractive Four-petal Pawpaw is native to the scrub, dunes, and sligh...Read Moretly moist depressions and dry, sandy areas of coastal south Florida in Martin and Palm Beach Counties (zones: 9b and 10a). It is a great drought-tolerant shrub or small tree that attracts some pollinating insects and wildlife. It is rare and is being threatened by habitat destruction due to development and it and its habitat needs protection to ensure its and other species's, including wildlife's, survival!

MORE FACTS - Drought-tolerant; needs undisturbed, dry sandy scrub habitat. Needs open spaces with full, glaring sunlight and almost no shade from overhead vegetation. A great plant if possible for a wildlife and native plant garden with the plant's right habitat!

Credits to ISB Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants and the Plants National Database.

UPDATE - According to a lead region species account by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Division of Endangered Species, this species is confined mainly to valuable and rare sand pine scrub in northern Palm Beach County and southern Martin County in scattered locations with remaining habitat. Is is most common especially in Jonathan Dickinson State Park just north of Palm Beach County in southern Martin county (zone 9b) near the Atlantic coast on high dune ridges and with scrub vegetation. Also, blooming time is reportedly primarily from May to August. Hurricanes and storms are also reportedly helpful to the plant by destroying vegetation that may be growing higher than the plant, which may cause too much shade once they're taller than the pawpaw and shade it out, since the plant likes to be exposed and have full sun.