What fruits are native to usa

Pawpaws are the only large fruit native to North America—they fed mastodons and bear-sized ground sloths millennia ago. More recently, Native Americans ate pawpaws, and George Washington enjoyed them as a favorite dessert. Yet they are little known today.

Table of Contents Show

Table of Contents
2. American Persimmons
3. Cranberries
7. Black Cherries

Native to the eastern half of the United States, pawpaws are a little bigger than an avocado and comparably heavy. A ripe pawpaw has an almost liquid texture with a pungent, sweet smell and a taste reminiscent of tropical fruits such as mangoes and bananas. (They’re sometimes referred to as the poor man’s banana or hillbilly mangoes.) In terms of taste, the fruit is at times celebrated, and at times belittled. Advocates praise pawpaws’ creamy, tropical taste. Agronomist E. Sturtevant described them as “too luscious for the relish of most people,” and botanist William Werthner said of their puckery flavor “only a boy can eat more than one at a time.”

In the earliest days of human society, pawpaw trees were unusually generous. Fruits and vegetables such as corn, strawberries, and carrots were small and bitter before humans tediously grafted and bred them for size and flavor. But wild pawpaws were large, and the fruit is one of the world’s most nutritious, providing a good source of potassium, several amino acids, and Vitamin C, iron, and copper. Pawpaws were a staple of many Native American diets, and Lewis and Clark were content to live off them during a leg of their 1804-06 journey across America.

But while many shortcomings of apples and strawberries were bred away, a lingering characteristic of the pawpaw became a liability in the modern world: its short shelf life. The trees are only harvestable from late August to mid-September, and if kept at room temperature, the fruit ripens to the point of fermentation within three days. Pawpaws bruise easily, and the only effective way to ship them is frozen.

Research to develop pawpaws for the mass market is still in early stages, but a cult following has developed in the last 20 or so years. At Ohio’s annual Pawpaw Festival, vendors sell pawpaw ales, ice cream, and other pawpaw foods.

Where to Try It

Fruits are essential to humans and animals, and humans plant most of them. However, each continent has its indigenous fruits.

These fruits recover quickly from pests and diseases. They are also more receptive to drought. Several continents like Latin America and Asia also have beautiful indigenous fruits.

People should learn to protect all indigenous plants because we are losing the diversity of these plants. Thus, affecting the nutritional standard of the residents of the continent.

However, in this article, we’ll discuss the edible fruits native to North America. Read on!

1. Grapes

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Grapes are the fruits of the flowering plant genus Vitis, which grows on deciduous woody vines. This native fruit can be consumed in a variety of ways.

People use it to make grape juice, wine, vinegar, etc. Not all grapes are native to North America, though. California and South America produce most table grapes consumed in the United States.

These grapes are seedless and have milder flavors than most table grape types cultivated in the eastern United States. Grapes grown in the United States act as a natural reservoir for genetic resources.

Also, people use grapes to develop interspecific hybrids, which improve planted grapevines worldwide.

2. American Persimmons

American Persimmons are among the fruits that are native to North America. Though we can get persimmons in Asia, there is a variety named Diospyros virginiana native to North America.

Most of these small fruits are orange, but you can have some delicious golden yellow and red. However, when deer and other wildlife come across this edible fruit, they consider it a treat.

The first settlers used this fruit as a tea ingredient back in the day, which healed them of most ailments.

Also, you’ll enjoy persimmons mostly when eaten fresh or used to bake goods. Persimmon trees are primarily found in a gardener’s yard.

3. Cranberries

Cranberries are essential sources of nutrients. People can enjoy them in several ways, including juice and sauce, and you’ll find this native plant in the Northeastern parts of North America.

When European colonists landed in North America, they discovered cranberries and became their primary food source. Sometimes, they would make sauce from these cranberries or season them for other meals.

Also, they used cranberries to dye clothes and treat several illnesses. Though cranberries are beneficial to health, they can become harmful if consumed excessively.

4. Mayhaws

Mayhaws are among the fruits that are native to North America. People also refer to them as of May hawthorns.

The fruit got its name because it gets ripe in May. However, they are native to Louisiana in North America. These fruits are round and small, and you’ll find them growing on thorny trees.

These fruits are easy to plant in Louisiana because the place has several swampy areas. Not many people like the taste of this fruit. But it has many other benefits, including making jelly.

5. PawPaws

Pawpaw is a tropical fruit that belongs to the custard apple family. The pawpaw tree has enormous simple leaves and large fruit, a member of the pawpaw family.

It is native to eastern North America, where people also refer to it as Asimina. Pawpaw grows primarily in temperate climates and is in large quantities in the woods with relative ease.

Pawpaw is a fruit that looks similar to tropical fruits, and it has been referenced multiple times in association with historical individuals.

Ripe pawpaw is a fruit that can be eaten raw, and its pulp can be used to make ice cream, baked items, and even beer.

6. Berries

The berry family is broad, including strawberries, juneberries, blueberries, etc. Though blueberries are the most popular among the other berries, they are all native to North America.

The Native Americans taught the first settlers in North America how to make dishes with berries back in the day. They didn’t forget to teach them how to preserve and combine dishes with berries.

Although the berries you’ll find at the store are a bit bigger than the ones growing outside, all are still berries.

7. Black Cherries

The most common native cherry in the eastern United States is the black cherry. North American cherries come in a variety of varieties.

The Black Cherry and the Chokecherry are two popular varieties. There is also a wild cherry species that is native to Europe.

On the other hand, people prefer to eat this fruit as a snack while drinking. The wood of the black cherry tree is more famous than the fruit itself.

These woods are excellent for plank cooking and give fish and meat a pleasant, woody flavor.

The National Wildlife Federation

With these native plants, you can feed wildlife and enjoy the fruits of your labor during holiday meals and other times

Janet Marinelli
Gardening
Nov 07, 2012

IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE a Thanksgiving meal in New England without the traditional dollop of cranberry sauce. For many southerners, holiday celebrations would be incomplete without a bowl of warm persimmon pudding. We may not think of these fruits as being as “American as apple pie,” but in fact both were flourishing on this continent long before early European settlers imported the first apples to our shores. Cranberries, persimmons and other native fruits are among the true American originals. They’re also the epitome of “locally grown.” As we increasingly strive to feed ourselves sustainably, there’s no better place to start than with homegrown native fruits—from blueberries in Maine and scuppernongs in North Carolina to red raspberries in California. We wouldn’t be the only ones to reap the benefits—wildlife love to feast on these fruits, too. Ten American Originals Following are 10 American originals you can grow in your garden come next spring and then enjoy the fruits of your labor during holiday meals and other times. Now is a good time to begin making plans. To be certain you are not introducing a plant that might be invasive in your area, look for species that are native to your region. Keep in mind that the cultivated varieties available at local nurseries are not necessarily the best choice—their fruits may be bigger, but they’re often less tasty than the native species and may be less attractive to wildlife. Blueberries: While cultivated varieties have been developed from the highbush blueberry, which grows wild in the East and Midwest, other blueberry species are native to most of the United States and Canada. The shrubs produce small flowers that are important spring nectar sources for bees while their intense, sweet-tart flavored berries are relished by many birds and mammals. Serviceberries: Some species of serviceberry—also known as Juneberry, shadbush or Saskatoon—is native to every contiguous U.S. state and Canadian province. The large shrubs or small trees feature delicate white flowers on bare branches in spring that provide nectar for insects emerging from winter nests. The small, purple fruits help sustain grosbeaks, thrushes and many other birds during the breeding season. If you can get to them before the birds, the uniquely flavored berries can be used to make jam or pie. Cranberries: These Thanksgiving staples grow on low shrubs in the northeastern, mid-Atlantic and midwestern states and farther south in the Appalachian Mountains. The tart red fruits also are attractive to birds. Most people assume that cranberries can’t be grown at home because they require habitat that is permanently wet. Commercial growers flood cranberry fields to make harvesting easier, but you don’t need a bog. Cranberries do benefit from moist soil and lots of compost. American Persimmons: Native from Connecticut to Iowa and Kansas south to Florida and Texas, American persimmon trees produce ornamental, purplish-orange fruits that hang on leafless branches in autumn. Before they ripen, the fruits are guaranteed to make your mouth pucker. But when ripe, they taste a lot like dates. Wild persimmons are an important fall and winter food for many mammals, and the trees are a larval host plant for the luna moth. Pawpaws: Producing the largest edible fruit of any North American native plant, pawpaw shrubs or small trees range from New York to Iowa and south from Florida to Texas. Up to 6 inches long and shaped similar to potatoes, the fruits turn yellow and black when ripe in the fall. They have a custardlike consistency and taste like a combination of mango, banana and pineapple. Birds and certain mammals feed on the fruits, and the trees are the host plant of zebra swallowtail butterflies. Elderberries: These shrubs produce pyramidal or flat-topped flower clusters that can be as big a Frisbee. Native throughout much of the United States and Canada, they are pollinator magnets. The flowers eventually sprout into clusters of small red or dark purple berries that are gobbled up by birds and mammals. Though inedible to us when raw, cooked elderberries make a tangy pie, wine or jelly. Wild Grapes: Few native fruits rival the wildlife value of wild grapes, which not only provide food but also nesting places for many birds in their tangled vines. Native to every contiguous U.S. state and from Nova Scotia west to Manitoba in Canada, wild grapes typically are smaller but much more flavorful than cultivated varieties. Two prized species are the northern fox grape, source of the famous Concord variety, and the scuppernong, a native of the South that can survive scorching temperatures and produce as much as 30 pounds of fruit yearly. The rampant vines can smother trees, so grow them on an arbor.

Raspberries, Blackberries and Salmonberries: These and other native brambles—shrubs that send up arching stems called canes—are perfect garden plants. They’re usually easy to grow and because they’re highly perishable, the fruits can be hard to find in supermarkets. Birds and mammals feed on them, while the flowers provide nectar for pollinators and the leaves are an essential food source for skipper butterfly larvae. A number of nonnative brambles have become invasive, so grow only local species. The red raspberry is native to every region of the Lower 48 except the Deep South. The black raspberry ranges throughout the East as far south as Georgia and from North Dakota south to Colorado and Oklahoma. The common, or Allegheny, blackberry grows in the Northeast and Midwest and south to Virginia and Missouri. California blackberry, also called dewberry, is native to the Pacific Northwest. The salmonberry is a favorite of western hummingbird species. In spring, migrating rufous hummingbirds follow the wave of the plants’ unfolding pink flowers northward from California to Alaska. Named for their resemblance to salmon roe, the fruits taste best when they are salmon- or amber-colored. Growing Tips Native plant suppliers can provide details on how to grow these and other native fruits. Check the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center’s national suppliers’ database for sources of the plants in your region. Other good sources of growing information are the websites of agricultural school programs such as Cornell University’s Department of Horticulture and Kentucky State University’s Pawpaw Program. Welcoming Wild Visitors NWF’s Certified Wildlife Habitat® program provides gardeners with information about native plants and the elements needed to create inviting outdoors spaces for birds and other wildlife year-round. Discover how to create an NWF Certified Wildlife Habitat®. New York writer Janet Marinelli’s most recent book is The Climate Conscious Gardener. To learn more, visit www.janetmarinelli.com. Related Resources Garden for Wildlife Buying Local, Boosting Wildlife

NWF at Work: Habitat Loss