Plant Sale 2025 — Podophyllum peltatum

Podophyllum peltatum (Mayapple) is a perennial woodland plant that likes rich moist soils in partial to full shade. The stalks have either one or two large palmate lobed leaves. The blooms are only found on those with two leaves. The plant produces only one white flower which is about an inch across. The foliage dies down in the heat of summer (spring ephemeral) during droughts but reappears the following year. Bumble bees are among Podophyllum peltatum pollinators — it does not produce nectar but does produce pollen. The fruit is eaten by box turtles and mammals such as skunks and opossums. The thick rhizomes of this plant produce underground shoots forming colonies once established. With the exception of the RIPE fruit, all parts of the mayapple are poisonous if eaten in large quantities.

Podophyllum peltatum is the VNPS 2025 Wildflower of the Year, read more about it here.

Photos: E.M. Truax