Melinda Myers

Mayapple

Botanical Name

Podophyllum peltatum

Hardiness

Zones 4 to 8

Height

12 to 18 inches

Width

12 inches

Flowers

Early to mid spring: white, hidden by leaves

Light

Part to full shade

Soil

Moist, well-drained, rich organic

Planting & Care

• Where happy, mayapple will spread by seed and rhizomes to form large colonies
• Foliage goes dormant in summer
• Divide in late summer or spring
• Fruit is edible when golden ripe; unripe fruit, stem, leaves, flowers and rhizome are poisonous and contain the compound Podophyllotoxin

Problems

None serious - most parts of plants are toxic when ingested (see Planting and Care)