Mayapple

Podophyllum peltatum L.

light
Part–shade
water
Medium
tall
38 cm
wide
27 cm

Berberidaceae

Also called May apple, American Mandrake

Formerly Anapodophyllum peltatum, Podophyllum callicarpum, Podophyllum montanum

When it flowers

Not known yet in the tropics: too few flowering observations to read a season from.

Read from iNaturalist photographs of it in flower. A month counts at 50% of the best month's flowering share (smoothed over three months) and 10% of its flowering count, from at least 100 flowering observations in the band.

PetsNC State Extension lists it as toxic to dogs, cats and horses (25 Oct 2026)
PeopleNC State Extension lists it as very poisonous (leaves, roots, seeds, stems) (25 Oct 2026)

If a child, a pet or anyone may have eaten a plant, contact a doctor or vet straight away, or call the National Poisons Information Centre (AIIMS, New Delhi) on 1800 116 117, free and open 24 hours.

Something wrong with it?

About it

Grows as
PerennialKew's checklist, not yet checked
Climate
TemperateKew's checklist, not yet checked
Wild in
SE. Canada to C. & E. U.S.A.Kew's checklist, not yet checked
Light
Part shade to shade (under 6 h)Read from NC State Extension, one source
Height
30 cm to 46 cmRead from NC State Extension, one source
Spread
23 cm to 30 cmRead from NC State Extension, one source
Water
Average: moist, well drainedRead from NC State Extension, one source
Flowers
WhiteRead from NC State Extension, one source
Coldest it survives
-40 °C (USDA zone 3a)Read from NC State Extension, one source

Not known yet: heat, hottest it survives.

In other languages (12)

root
PODPEL, ᎤᏂᏍᏇᏚᎦ, ’kvpotoyv
Estonian
kilpjas jalgleht
German
Schildförmiges Fußblatt
Czech
noholist štítnatý
Russian
Подофилл щитовидный
Ojibwa
Inini Wijiibik (Bookade`imin)
Chinese
北美鬼臼, 北美桃儿七, 足叶草
Japanese
アメリカミヤオソウ, ポドフィルム
Spanish
Ipecacuana de la Carolina
French
Podophylle pelté, pomme de mai
Danish
Prærie fodblad
Chinese (China)
北美鬼臼

Where this comes from

A fact “checked by a majority of its sources” was settled by a vote of the pages it was read from, not by a person reading it; one marked “one source” rests on that page alone. Anything else not marked checked has not been checked yet. Where nothing is known, the page says so rather than guess.