OF LANDIS HOMES PAWPAW TREES
A HIDDEN GEM WITH DEEP ROOTS
O
n the serene grounds of Landis Homes, nestled among the walking paths and woodlands, a unique native fruit quietly flourishes, thanks to the dedication of resident,
Don Ziegler. For those who pass by without knowing, these unassuming trees—native pawpaws—might blend into the background. But for Don, they’re a living link to history and ecology, as well as a personal passion.
So what makes the pawpaw so special?
Te Asimina triloba, commonly known as the pawpaw, is the largest native fruit in North America. Some of the fruit harvested from the Landis Homes trees have weighed more than two pounds—a surprising size for a fruit often overlooked in modern agriculture. But its uniqueness doesn’t stop there. Te pawpaw is also the only temperate member of the tropical Custard Apple family. “It’s as if a piece of the tropics decided to appear in the forests of the eastern United States, including right here in Lancaster County,” Don notes.
Don’s journey to becoming the unofficial “Pawpaw Guy” of Landis Homes started with a love for the natural world. A former teacher and insurance executive, Don is also a skilled nature photographer. Having exhibited his photography at several local retirement communities, Don found Landis Homes to be the most welcoming and vibrant. He also appreciated that Landis Homes had transformed a drainage basin for stormwater into beautiful wetlands! Don moved to Landis Homes in 2014 with his wife, Priscilla, who has since passed away.
Soon after settling in, Don got involved with the Friends of the Woods and Wetlands, a resident group helping to shape the natural beauty of the campus by planting native trees and plants. Among them, of course, were pawpaws.
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Landis.org | FLOURISH | Summer 2025
CULTIVATING GROWTH
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