We evaluated three possible functions of clonal growth related to genet persistence in the root-suckering understory tree pawpaw, Asimina triloba (L.) Dunal: (1) risk spreading through multiplication of stems, (2) enhanced establishment and survival of new stems, and (3) horizontal expansion growth of patches. The number, diameter growth, and spatial distribution of annual stem recruits were examined over three years in a natural population of pawpaw. The rate of stem recruitment was consistently higher than stem mortality. We found no difference in stem turnover rate for patches of different size, indicating that stem production is more than high enough to avoid patch extinction. Although newly formed stems were considerably smaller than previously established stems, they grew and survived as well as established stems. We found no evidence for clonal growth contributing to extensive horizontal expansion of patches. Our results suggest that ensuring survivorship of new stems is the main ecological role of clonal growth in pawpaw.