Atria is a modern pawpaw variety bred by Red Fern Farm (Iowa, USA). It was created by breeder Tom Wahl as hybrid offspring after pollinating Shenandoah and Susquehanna varieties. The variety is named after the star Atria (like some other varieties from the southern sky: Rigel, Betria, Regulus) and is classified as a high-quality hybrid crop.
Atria belongs to the group of mid-season varieties. In ideal USA conditions, this is usually late August – September. For example, in Ohio, pawpaw fruits usually ripen in September, and in northern states (Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois), the season falls in September–October. In the temperate climate of Europe with long warm summers, Atria likely ripens in late September or early October, before the first autumn frosts.
Pawpaw is generally hardy to USDA zone 5 (down to approximately –26...–28 °C), being the hardiest among the Annonaceae family. The Atria variety grows successfully in temperate climates and USDA zones 5–9. Thanks to this, it is grown as far as Canada and Northern Europe.
Atria fruits have the traditional "tropical" pawpaw flavor: sweet, with fruity notes of banana, mango, pineapple, papaya, and citrus. The pulp is very soft, creamy (custard-like). Breeder and gardener reviews characterize the taste of Atria as "excellent", rich, and "very tropical". The fruits have a creamy consistency: in characteristics, the puree resembles banana pudding or ice cream, and the aroma is pleasantly rich and fruity.
Atria yields large, elongated cylindrical fruits. Usually, their length is 10–15 cm, and weight – 125–350 g. The shape is elongated-oval (larger and more "stretched" than most varieties). At the same time, Atria fruits have relatively few seeds (low seed percentage), which increases the proportion of juicy pulp.
The variety is known for very abundant fruiting. Descriptions of Atria mention "heavy production". Trees regularly yield large crops annually (without pronounced alternate bearing) under normal care. After entering fruiting, Atria is characterized as a stable and abundant variety that, thanks to its good tolerance and optimal fruit characteristics, is gradually gaining popularity.
Atria grows into a small tree or large shrub. Adult specimens usually reach 4.5–6 m in height, sometimes up to 8–10 m in very favorable conditions. They grow quite actively initially (medium growth rate), but over time form a wide, rounded canopy. Leaves are dense, dark green. Due to its understory origin, pawpaw prefers protection from strong winds and partial shade, although for maximum fruiting, adult trees will bear well in sunny areas.
Pawpaw is not self-pollinating. Its flowers contain both male and female organs but open "protogynously": first the stigma becomes receptive, and then the pollen is released. Because of this, effective pollination requires two genetically different trees – one variety pollinates the other. In practice, this means having at least two varieties (different clonal trees) of pawpaw in the garden. Otherwise, fruits almost don't form without manual pollination. Bees, bumblebees, and other flower-visiting insects work well as pollinators, but it is often recommended to manually spray flowers with a pollen mixture for the highest yield.
Pawpaw is naturally resistant to most diseases and pests because it contains toxic compounds in its leaves and fruit. It is believed that Atria has no particular weakness to diseases compared to other varieties. On the contrary, breeders choose the crop specifically for its "healthy endurance" against other valuable traits.
The provider-developer of Atria is Red Fern Farm (Iowa, USA) – this is where the variety was created. Other American nurseries that regularly sell pawpaw may also have this variety in their assortment (especially specialized centers).
Gardeners and researchers give Atria mostly positive reviews. In specialized forum threads, it is noted: "Atria… – heavy bearer, with large elongated fruits with low seed content and excellent taste." Overall, Atria is described as a "very sweet" and "tropically aromatic" variety that gives large fruits and stable yields.