Growing 12 to 18 inches tall, each plant has a single stem with one or two large, heavily divided umbrella-like leaves. Plants with two leaves may produce a large white flower with six to eight petals in early spring, though the flower is usually hidden beneath the leaves. The flowers give way to a single greenish fruit that turns golden when ripe. Plant seeds or divide in early spring or fall; be patient with the seeds or divide to enjoy a fast spread of ground covering. When using this plant in your landscaping, do remember that it’s a spring ephemeral that will go dormant at some point in the summer. This means that it will mainly be useful in the spring and early summer. It also means that it will leave a hole in its space that you may wish to fill with something else for the second half of the summer. Don’t plant mayapple in a spot where you need continuous color.
Light
At the southern end of mayapple’s range, a location with full shade is best. In the North, however, they can take some sun, especially if they receive sufficient moisture.
Soil
Mayapple plants prefer a well-drained soil that tends toward the acidic side of the pH scale. It will do in either moist or dry soil, provided it is humusy and well-drained.
Water
Mayapple prefers relatively moist soil, but like many woodland wildflowers, it has good tolerance for dry conditions, provided it is in a shady location. A good amount of organic material in the soil generally helps provide necessary moisture retention.
Temperature and Humidity
Mayapple does well in temperature and humidity levels throughout its hardiness range, though you should expect it to die back by mid-summer.
Fertilizer
No feeding is necessary for mayapple, as this wildflower generally derives all the nutrients it needs from organic material in the soil. In poor soils, amending with compost will help the plants.
Mayapple vs. European Mandrake
As fascinating as mayapple is, European mandrake is an even more interesting study because it exerted a powerful impact on the European imagination for centuries and became entrenched in literature and art. European mandrake boasts of two unique traits. First, its roots are sometimes shaped like miniature human beings, and second, it’s a hallucinogen. For both of these reasons, European mandrake figured prominently in magical lore and it was thought capable of improving fertility. Medicinally, European mandrake was also valued as an anesthetic and a sleep aid. As with many medicinal plants, if you didn’t get the dosage right, you could get sick from it. European mandrake is in the same family (nightshade) as bittersweet nightshade, a family infamous for its toxicity.
Propagating Mayapple
Mayapple can be propagated either by root division or by planting the seeds collected from the fruit. But seeds can take four to five years to grow to maturity, so root division is the more common and preferred method. In fall or early spring when the plant is dormant, simply dig up, divide, and replant where you would like expansive ground covering that even wildlife will avoid due to its tart leaves.
Common Pests & Diseases
Mayapple can develop a specific disease in the spring called mayapple rust. The top side of the leaves develop yellow or light green spots and the underside of the leaves may develop rust-colored spores or pustules. Leaves may pucker and drop but the plant tolerates it well. The disease is usually not fatal to the plant and does not require treatment.
