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    • Photo of Podophyllum peltatum foliage by Danger Garden

    Photo by Danger Garden

    Used with permission, all rights reserved

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    Podophyllum peltatum

    Also Known As

    • American Mandrake
    • American Mayapple
    • Devil's Apple
    • Hog Apple
    • Indian Apple
    • Mandrake Root
    • May Apple

    Plant type

    perennial

    size

    • H: 1'-2'
    • W: 2'-15'

    planting zones

    • 3a-9b

    More Options

    Podophyllum peltatum plant details

    Podophyllum peltatum is a broadleaf deciduous perennial with green foliage. In spring white flowers emerge followed by green, red and yellow fruit. Features glossy texture. Attracts bees, birds and butterflies making it an excellent addition to pollinator gardens. Grows well with bright shade - shade and even moisture - regular water. Does well in acidic, average, rich and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something humidity tolerant.

    CHARACTERISTICS OF Podophyllum peltatum

    Plant type: perennial
    Plant family: berberidaceae
    Foliage: deciduous green
    Mature size: 2 FT - 15 FT - wide, 1 FT - 2 FT - tall
    Flowers: white blooms in spring
    Uses: fragrant, summer dormant, woodland garden

    GROWING CONDITIONS for Podophyllum peltatum

    USDA Zones: 3a - 9b
    Sun exposure: bright shade - shade
    Watering frequency: even moisture - regular
    Resistant to: humidity
    Soil needs: acidic, average, rich and well-drained

    Nursery contributed plant descriptions

    Podophyllum peltatum is a mayapple species of the deciduous forests of eastern North America where it forms impressive, ground-covering colonies. The leaves erupt from the rich forest soils like folded umbrellas that open to reveal a simple white flower hanging beneath. In summer orange-red fruits are formed that taste like lemons. All other parts of the plant are poisonous.

    By: Phoenix Perennials and Specialty Plants Ltd.

    ?The umbrellas are out! cry the children when the great green leaves of the mayapple first unfold? (Dana); this very distinctive and tolerant wildflower with its large leaves and 2" yellow fruit can form colonies on difficult sites. S-PSh/M

    By: Forestfarm

    Each plant is a single stem 12″-18″ tall with an umbrella of one or two palmate-lobed, pale green leaves. White blooms are often covered by the leaves, but give way to fruit that is golden when ripe. Other plant parts are toxic. Mayapple is a naturalizing woodland plant that blooms in Spring and goes dormant in Summer.

    By: Noname Nursery

    Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) is often referred to as "Umbrella Plant" because of its large, widely-spreading leaves.?Creeps slowly by rhizomes to form a miniature "forest" when planted two feet on center, and is known to do well under some pines. The umbrella-like leaves protect beautiful and fragrant white flowers that attracts a wide variety of pollinators in April and May. Grows in any well-drained soil in shade, and in full sun in rich, heavy soil. Hardy to Zones 4 - 8.

    By: Prairie Nursery

    Large umbrella-like leaves have a lush opulent beauty, almost hiding the large waxy white flowers, and fruits that make a tasty jelly, get them before the chipmunks! People are starting to cross our native May Apple with some of the Asian Dysosma species with spectacular results.

    By: Arrowhead Alpines

    Blooms: spring, white, impressive bronze new foliage Zone 4-9. 2', Eastern US, part shade-shade, moist, well drained

    By: Keeping it Green Nursery

    Solitary nodding flower borne in the crotch between a pair of large, deeply lobed leaves. Flowers 2" wide with 6-9 waxy white petals. 12-18" tall. Blooms April-June. Likes rich woods and damp, shady clearings.

    By: Hoot Owl Hollow Nursery

    Commonly called Mayapple or Mandrake Root. A handsome woodland native with umbrella shaped leaves that will carpet the earth in drier upland soil. White flowers are held just below the foliage in May followed by yellow fruit. It is summer dormant. The roots are used for homeopathic remedies but they are poisonous.

    By: Avant Gardens

    Mayapple. A plant of the Eastern woodlands, this thrives in a moist rich soil to the point where it needs containment unless you are looking for a broad patch. Big maple leaves pop up in spring under which the white flower hangs which later produces a large showy red fruit. New strong divisions.

    By: Far Reaches Farm

    Gardening facts about Podophyllum peltatum plant

    How to Grow Podophyllum peltatum

    • Sun Exposure

      • bright shade - shade

    • Water Needs

      • even moisture - regular

    • Soil Needs

      • acidic
      • average
      • well-drained
      • rich

    • Special Situation

      • humidity tolerant

    Features

    • Foliage Color

      • green

    • Flower Color

      • white

    • Wildlife

      • birds
      • bees
      • butterflies

    • Fruit

      • red
      • yellow
      • green

    • Flower Season

      • spring

    • Foliage Season

      • deciduous

    • Texture

      • glossy

    See other plant types of Podophyllum for your garden

    Podophyllum pleianthum

    aka Dysosma pleiantha, Chinese May Apple, Chinese Mayapple

    Plant Type

    Perennial

    Zones

    6a-9b

    Size

    Height: 18"-30"

    Width: 9"-24"

    • bright shade - shade
    • even moisture - regular
    Photo of Podophyllum pleianthum foliage by plant lust
    View Plant

    Podophyllum 'Spotty Dotty' PP17361

    aka Dysosma 'Spotty Dotty', Asian Mayapple, Spotty Dotty Chinese Mayapple

    Plant Type

    Perennial

    Zones

    7a-10a

    Size

    Height: 1'-2'

    Width: 1'-2'

    • bright shade - shade
    • even moisture - regular
    Photo of Podophyllum 'Spotty Dotty' PP17361 by Patricia Cunningham
    View Plant

    Podophyllum pleianthum [short]

    aka Dysosma pleiantha [short], Chinese Mayapple

    Plant Type

    Perennial, Herb, Bulb / Corm / Tuber, Aquatic

    Zones

    6a-10b

    Size

    Height: 12"-18"

    Width: 18"-30"

    • bright shade - shade
    • regular
    Photo of Podophyllum pleianthum [short] foliage by Joshua McCullough
    View Plant

    Sinopodophyllum hexandrum

    aka Podophyllum emodi, Podophyllum hexandrum, Chinese May Apple, Himalayan Mayapple

    Plant Type

    Perennial

    Zones

    4a-8b

    Size

    Height: 16"-36"

    Width: 12"-18"

    • mostly sun - shade
    • even moisture - regular
    Photo of Sinopodophyllum hexandrum flower, foliage by Far Reaches Farm
    View Plant

    More Options

    Podophyllum delavayi

    aka Dysosma delavayi, Chinese Mayapple

    Plant Type

    Perennial, Herb, Aquatic

    Zones

    6a-10b

    Size

    Height: 8"-24"

    Width: 12"

    • mostly shade - shade
    • even moisture - regular
    Photo of Podophyllum delavayi foliage by Danger Garden
    View Plant

    More Options

    +20 more Podophyllum
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