Mayapple
Podophyllum peltatum
Family Berberidaceae
In spring woods, mayapple spreads a floor of little green umbrellas, each shading one white flower and, later, a single golden fruit. That ripe, soft fruit is a storied woodland treat — and the plant's only edible part; everything else, unripe fruit included, is firmly off the menu.
Grow it for the colony — few sights say spring woodland like a mayapple sweep, and its root chemistry is serious enough that modern cancer drugs trace back to it, a reason for respect. It sleeps away the summer, so partner it with ferns and let the umbrellas own the spring shade.
Part Shade to Full Shade
Moderate water
Moderate growth
Native to North America
Attracts bees
From the print shop
Growing mayapple? Hang it.
Our Plant Library collection carries mayapple — Podophyllum peltatum, print Nº 297, “Mayapple.”
526 designsfrom $12.99white or black backgroundmatte poster, unframed
Will it fruit where you are?
Enter your ZIP — we look up your USDA hardiness zone (2023 map) and check it against what mayapple actually needs.
Hardy inZones 3-8Mayapple · Common problems
Common mayapple problems
Pests
1 problem on file
- Almost none
Diseases
1 problem on file
- Rust (cosmetic)
Mayapple · Growing & propagation
Growing mayapple
- Light
- Part Shade to Full Shade
- Water
- Moderate
Spring moisture; goes dormant in summer
Soil- Rich, moist, humusy · pH 5.0 - 6.5
Fertilizer- Leaf mold
Pruning- Rarely (goes dormant by midsummer)
A charming native woodland groundcover — colonies of umbrella-like leaves carpeting spring woods, each pair hiding a single waxy white flower, then a golden fruit. Critical caution: ALL parts are toxic EXCEPT the fully ripe, soft, yellow fruit (green fruit, leaves, roots, and seeds are poisonous). It goes fully dormant by midsummer, so pair with ferns to fill the gap. Spreads into handsome colonies in shade.
Spacing- 12 in
How to plant & propagate mayapple
- Propagate
- Division or seed
Mayapple · Calculators & field guides
A little help in the garden.
Mayapple · Yearly calendar
The mayapple year, month by month
Jan
No calendar activity is listed for this month.
BloomPrune
HarvestBloomMarch to May
PruneJuly
HarvestJune to August
What each band means
- Bloom — flowers open — pollinators working, frost on blossoms is the danger.
- Prune — shape it now — cuts heal cleanly and structure is visible.
- Harvest — picking time — check ripeness every few days.
These are the species' typical months — expect them a few weeks earlier in warm zones and later in cold ones. Watch the plant, not just the calendar.
Mayapple · Ecology & uses
Ecology & uses
Podophyllum peltatum
Mayapple in the garden system
- Groundcover layer perennial
- Living mulch
Attracts- Bees
Habitat- Woodland
- Moisture
- Facultative / average
Deer- Browsed
Protect young plants
- Origin
- Native to North America
What mayapple is grown for
! Some parts toxic — see notesOnly the FULLY RIPE fruit is edible — all other parts (and unripe fruit) are TOXIC; the root is a source of cancer-drug precursors, which tells you to respect it
- Use
- Woodland colony
- Use
- Spring native
- Use
- Shade
Respect toxicity
- Traditional use rating
- 3/5 in herbal tradition
Harvesting & storing mayapple
ONE ripe golden fruit per plant in summer — the ONLY edible part, and only when fully ripe/soft; everything else is toxic.
Edibility, identification, and traditional-use notes here are general reference — not medical or veterinary advice, and not a claim that any plant treats or prevents anything. Medicinal ratings record how strongly a plant features in herbal tradition, nothing more. Never eat or dose a plant you have not positively identified. More on how to use this library.
Mayapple · Varieties & cultivars
Choosing a mayapple variety
Species
Sources & plant identity
Know what you’re growing.
See where the knowledge comes from.
Mayapple
Podophyllum peltatum
The plant, at a glance.
- Botanical name
- Podophyllum peltatum
- Plant family
- Berberidaceae
- Growth habit
- Perennial
- Origin
- Native to North America
- USDA plant symbol
- POPE
- Invasive risk
- Low
Hardiness, size and timing vary with your cultivar, soil and climate.
Rooted in research.
University extension research, brought together with hands-on growing experience at Story Thyme Farms.
Where to buy
Third-party nurseries — not Story Thyme Farms.
Third-party nurseries, not Story Thyme Farms. Prices are theirs.
Story Thyme Farms may earn a small commission from these links, at no cost to you — it never changes what we recommend.
Questions
Mayapple questions, answered straight.
Is mayapple safe for kids and pets?
With care. Only the FULLY RIPE fruit is edible — all other parts (and unripe fruit) are TOXIC; the root is a source of cancer-drug precursors, which tells you to respect it Site it accordingly if children or pets roam the garden. This is general reference, not medical or veterinary advice — call a vet or poison control if something has actually been eaten.
When do you harvest mayapple?
ONE ripe golden fruit per plant in summer — the ONLY edible part, and only when fully ripe/soft; everything else is toxic.
How do you propagate mayapple?
Division or seed.
Elsewhere
Where mayapple sits in the library.
Bearberry (Kinnikinnick)
Wild Ginger
Foamflower
Virginia Creeper