Summary
Very common in our rich moist woodlands, May-apple (Podophyllum peltatum) is one of the first signs of spring, carpeting the ground in emerald green foliage. Concealed beneath the 8-12” tall umbrella-shaped leaves is a nodding, solitary white flower followed by a yellow, apple-like berry. Other parts of the plant are poisonous. In June, May-apple begins to go dormant and can be cut back. This underused deciduous ground cover forms a large mass and for textural contrast is best grown with ferns such as broad beech fern (Phegopteris hexagonoptera), Goldie’s wood-fern (Dryopteris goldieana) and Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides). It also grows well with late summer blooming white wood aster (Eurybia divaricata) and broad-leaf goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis) which will occupy the space when May-apple goes dormant. Zones 3-8.
More Details
- Sun/Shade Conditions
shade-to-partial-shade - Foliage Character
deciduous - Soil Moisture
average-to-moist - Flowering Period
early-spring - Soil PH
adaptable - Flower Color
white - Summer Foliage Color
green - Fall Foliage Color
dormant - Fruit/Seed Color
yellow
Additional Information
Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Info, Flora of North America