Description

Please note: Spring ephemeral.

Key Information:

Soil: Mesic (Medium) – Xeric (Dry)
Sun: Part Sun – Shade
Height: 1-2 feet
Color: White
Bloom: May – June

More Details:

Suggested Uses: Mayapple is a spring ephemeral that goes dormant by mid-summer. It is a lovely addition to any woodland landscape or garden with rich soil.  It has rhizomatous roots and makes a nice ground cover in protected woodland settings.

Native Range: Native to woodlands in the eastern half of the U.S. Native to the southeastern corner of Minnesota.

Pollinators: Queen bees collect pollen from the flowers.

Flowers: The 2″ single, nodding flower has 6-9 petals and twice as many sepals. The anthers are yellow and the ovary is superior.

Leaves: There are usually 2 big 1′ wide leaves per plant. They resemble a pinwheel. They have 5-9 lobes and the stem attaches to the center of the wheel.

Food Uses: All parts of the plant are toxic, except the fruit when it turns yellow. The fruit is edible when it turns yellow in August. It is best cooked. Recipes include preserves made with syrup and ginger; and a drink made with the pulp of the fruit, Maderia and sugar.

Other Names:  Mandrake

More information: USDA plant profile.