By Jenny Marie Lawrence
Native fruits offer more than a seasonal harvest. During a recent Grow Native! webinar, Nadia Navarrete-Tindall of Lincoln University of Missouri (LU) Cooperative Extension discussed how these plants benefit both people and the environment around them.
Because native plants have long grown alongside local wildlife, they continue to provide the food and habitat that pollinators and other animals depend on. Navarrete-Tindall, who leads LU’s Native and Specialty Crops Program, highlighted several species grown in Missouri, including wild plums, persimmons, pawpaws, spicebush and elderberries.
Wild plums received particular attention in the presentation. At Lincoln University, about a dozen plum trees produced more than 400 pounds of fruit in 2025, with peak production reaching 1,000 pounds in 2024. Yields can vary from year to year due to climate conditions. In addition to fresh use, the fruit can be turned into jams, jellies and other value-added products.
Persimmons also stood out for their production potential. Navarrete-Tindall noted that a single tree at Lincoln University can yield around 120 pounds of fruit. Select persimmons are sold for $4 per dozen through LU’s Farmers Market.
Pawpaws hold market value as well. The fruit can sell for $1 to $2 each, giving growers another crop with sales potential. The tree serves as a host plant for the zebra swallowtail butterfly, adding ecological value beyond the harvest.
“I initially planted pawpaws because I knew they were good for the butterflies,” Navarrete-Tindall said.
She also highlighted spicebush, a native shrub that supports the spicebush swallowtail butterfly. Its berries provide food for animals and can be dried and used as a spice in the kitchen.
Source : lincolnu.edu