Description
Podophyllum peltatum, commonly called mayapple, is a rhizomatous.
Podophyllum is an herbaceous perennial plant in the family Berberidaceae, described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753. In the past, several species were included in the genus, but all but one have been transferred to other genera.
From a single stem, each plant features one or two, deeply-divided, palmately-lobed, umbrella-like, pale green leaves. Flowers are quite showy but usually hidden by the umbrella-like leaves. Each flower gives way to an edible, fleshy, greenish fruit.Plant Specifications
| Common Name | May-apple, American mandrake, wild mandrake, ground lemon |
| Maximum Reachable Height | 1 to 1.50 feet |
| Flower Colour | White |
| Bloom Time | April |
| Difficulty Level | Easy to grow |
Planting and care
Mayapple care
Mayapples can either be grown from Rhizomes or from seeds. If growing from Rhizomes bury them about 3 cm deep. The seeds should be fresh and sown into flats, under glass, in a shaded part of the garden in august or September
Seeds can take from one to six months to germinate. Once you see seedlings let them grow for a year; transplant to individual pots and allow the Mayapple to grow for a further year, then transplant into the garden in spring or autumn.
| Sunlight | Full Sun |
| Watering | Medium |
| Soil | Average, medium moisture, well-drained soil |
| Temperature | -15 degrees C |
| Fertilizer | Apply any organic fertilizer |
Mayapple special feature
Excellent for naturalizing in woodland settings, wild or native plant gardens. Because plants naturalize freely but go dormant in summer (foliage disappears), mayapple is not considered a good border plant.
Mayapple uses
Ornamental Use:
- The plant is used for an ornamental purpose
Medicinal Use:
- Mayapple has been used by American Indians as an emetic, cathartic, and antihelmintic agent