Create Your Garden

Podophyllum peltatum (May Apple)

May Apple, Mayapple, American Mandrake, Behen, Devil's Apple, Duck's Foot, Ground Lemon, Hog Apple, Indian Apple, Indian May Apple, Peca, Raccoon Berry, Wild Jalap, Wild Lemon Tree, Wild Mandrake

Podophyllum peltatum, May Apple, American Mandrake, Behen, Devil's Apple, Duck's Foot, Ground Lemon, Hog Apple, Indian Apple, Indian May Apple, Peca, Raccoon Berry, Wild Jalap, Wild Lemon Tree, Wild Mandrake, Shade perennials, White flowers

Grown as an ornamental plant for its attractive foliage and flowers, Podophyllum peltatum (May Apple) is a rhizomatous perennial forming eye-catching clumps of big shiny green umbrella-like leaves, 12 in. across (30 cm). From a single stem, each plant features 1 or 2 leaves and 1 flower. Emerging bronze, the leaves are deeply divided into 5-9 lobes. They remain closed as the stem elongates, just like an unopened umbrella, and unfold when the plant has reached its mature height. In spring, solitary, nodding, white to rose-colored flowers, 3 in. wide (7 cm), are formed in the leaf axil. While showy, they are often hidden by the foliage and can be seen through rather than from above the plants. Plants with only a single leaf will not flower. The charming blossoms are followed by edible when fully ripe (poisonous until that stage), fleshy, green fruits which turn golden when mature and may be used to make preserves and jellies. May Apple goes dormant in summer and dies back completely. It often forms large, dense colonies in the wild and makes a slowly spreading, attractive groundcover in shady areas with moist soil.

  • Grows up to 12-18 in. tall (30-45 cm) and 10-12 in. wide (25-30 cm). Will self-seed where happy.
  • Easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in part shade or full shade. Thrives in moist, humusy soils. Deer and rabbit resistant.
  • Undemanding and virtually pest-free and disease-free, May Apple is excellent for naturalizing in woodland gardens, wild or native plant gardens. This plant is rarely used in borders, as it goes dormant in the summer, leaving a large gap that is difficult to fill.
  • Although the leaves, roots, and seeds are poisonous if ingested in large quantities, the roots were used as a cathartic by Native Americans.
  • Toxic to dogs, toxic to cats, toxic to horses, toxic to humans.
  • Native to eastern North America.

Requirements

Hardiness 3 - 9
Heat Zones 2 - 8
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Berberidaceae
Common names Peca, May Apple
Exposure Partial Sun, Shade
Season of Interest Spring (Mid, Late)
Height 1' - 2'
(30cm - 60cm)
Spread 10" - 1'
(25cm - 30cm)
Spacing 12" (30cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy, Fruit & Berries
Native Plants United States, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Maryland, Maine, Delaware, Connecticut, Vermont, Pennsylvania, Northeast, Midwest, Southwest, Southeast, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Indiana, Wisconsin, Ohio, Nebraska, Missouri, Minnesota, Michigan, Alabama, Kentucky, Georgia, Florida, Arkansas, Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma
Tolerance Full Shade, Drought, Deer, Rabbit, Dry Soil
Garden Styles Prairie and Meadow
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
Buy Plants

Requirements

Hardiness 3 - 9
Heat Zones 2 - 8
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Berberidaceae
Common names Peca, May Apple
Exposure Partial Sun, Shade
Season of Interest Spring (Mid, Late)
Height 1' - 2'
(30cm - 60cm)
Spread 10" - 1'
(25cm - 30cm)
Spacing 12" (30cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy, Fruit & Berries
Native Plants United States, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Maryland, Maine, Delaware, Connecticut, Vermont, Pennsylvania, Northeast, Midwest, Southwest, Southeast, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Indiana, Wisconsin, Ohio, Nebraska, Missouri, Minnesota, Michigan, Alabama, Kentucky, Georgia, Florida, Arkansas, Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma
Tolerance Full Shade, Drought, Deer, Rabbit, Dry Soil
Garden Styles Prairie and Meadow
How Many Plants
Do I Need?

Gardening Ideas

Plant Calculator

How many Podophyllum peltatum (May Apple) do I need for my garden?

Input your garden space dimensions

Your Shopping List

Plant Quantity
Podophyllum peltatum (May Apple) N/A Buy Plants

Please Login to Proceed

You Have Reached The Free Limit, Please Subscribe to Proceed

Subscribe to Gardenia

To create additional collections, you must be a paid member of Gardenia
  • Add as many plants as you wish
  • Create and save up to 25 garden collections
Become a Member

Plant Added Successfully

You have Reached Your Limit

To add more plants, you must be a paid member of our site Become a Member

Update Your Credit
Card Information

Cancel

Create a New Collection

Sign Up to Our Newsletter

    You have been subscribed successfully

    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Find your Hardiness Zone

    Find your Heat Zone

    Find your Climate Zone