woodland wildflower

Mayapple

Podophyllum peltatum

Also known as Indian Apple, Wild Mandrake, Pomme De Mai, Podophylle Pelt

Native to much of the USA and southern Canada

Quebec and southern Ontario to Florida, west to Minnesota, eastern Nebraska, eastern Kansas and eastern Texas

Light Part shade to shade Sun tolerance
Moisture Moist Moisture preference
Zones 4–9 Cold to heat range
Bloom Apr–May Flowering time
Height 12–18 in 30–46 cm
Life cycle Perennial Annual to perennial

Full details, see below

In the garden

A woodland wildflower for part to full shade and evenly moist soil. Its white and pink flowers peak in April. At 12–18 in, it suits shade gardens and woodland edges. Hardy in USDA zones 4–9.

Growing conditions

Light

Full sun Partial shade Full shade

Moisture

Dry Moist Wet

Hardiness zones

Find your zone:

When it blooms

The Mayapple's white and pink flowers bloom April to May, peaking in April. This early-spring ephemeral draws bees and butterflies.

Mayapple blooms white & pinkFoliage

Pollinators & wildlife

Bees Common Eastern Bumble Bee

also Western Honey Bee, Two-spotted Bumble Bee, American Bumble Bee +15 more
Orange-legged Furrow Bee, Cherry Mining Bee, Cresson's Sweat Bee, Thistle Longhorn-Cuckoo, Osmia conjuncta, Illinois Cuckoo Sweat Bee, Eastern Scaly Miner Bee, white-winged sweat bee, Xylocopa virginica virginica, Yellow-spotted Cuckoo Nomad Bee, Macropis steironematis, Coelioxys alternata, Andrena miserabilis, Two-banded Cellophane-cuckoo Bee, Tetragona dissecta
Butterflies Monarch also Mourning Cloak, Variegated Fritillary, Least Skipper
Flower flies Band-winged Bee Fly also Maize Calligrapher
Also visited by
- Beetles: Mordellistena aspersa
- Moths: White Slant-line

Butterflies that use this plant

Documented host and nectar records. Each links to a planting guide for that butterfly.

Full plant details

Where it grows

Habitat: WoodlandThe wild plant community it grows in.
Native range: Much of the USA and southern CanadaUnited States (36): AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV. Canada (2): ON, QC. Where it grows wild on its own, by state and province.
Native distribution: Quebec and southern Ontario to Florida, west to Minnesota, eastern Nebraska, eastern Kansas and eastern TexasThe same native range, usually more exact than the state list, and often noting where it has spread beyond it.

Growing conditions

Light: Part shade to shadeHow much sun it takes, from full sun to full shade.
Moisture: MoistThe soil dampness it prefers, from dry to wet.
Hardiness zones: USDA 4–9 · Canadian 5–7The cold-to-heat climate range it survives.
Soil: Moist, humus-rich soils. Acid-based, Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium LoamThe soils it grows in naturally.
Soil texture: Light to medium (sandy to loamy)The soil grade it prefers, from sand to clay.
Soil pH: Acid to neutralThe acidity to alkalinity it tolerates (7 is neutral).
Water use: MediumHow thirsty it is, a rough guide to how often to water.

Growth & form

Height: 12–18 in (30–46 cm)Typical mature height.
Spread: ~1 ft (0.3 m)How wide one plant gets, a guide to spacing.
Life cycle: PerennialWhether it lives a single season (annual), two (biennial), or returns for years (perennial).
Growth rate: ModerateA relative ranking versus other plants of the same type (USDA), not an absolute rate.

Flowers, foliage & fruit

Type: WildflowerWhat kind of plant it is.
Bloom: Apr–MayWhen it flowers.
Flower color: White, PinkThe bloom color, or colors.
Fruit/Seeds: ripens Apr–AugThe seed or fruit it sets after flowering.
Toxicity: Poisonous if eatenWhether any part is poisonous to people or pets.