Sunflower Pawpaw

Sunflower was discovered growing wild near Chanute, Kansas, around 1970, credited to a collector named Milo Gibson, with the variety formally named in 1974. It was later distributed more widely with help from Michigan breeder Corwin Davis, who also introduced his own Davis and Prolific selections. Sunflower has a genuine, if modest, following among Kansas growers today, including at least one small commercial orchard still growing it from stock traced back to Wichita. The fruit is medium-large with golden, yellowish-skinned flesh and few seeds, and it is purportedly self-fertile, though growers note it can develop a bitter aftertaste in some fruit and years.