Himalayan Mayapple
Podophyllum
Flourishing in moist, humus-rich niches, Podophyllum’s vigorous fleshy rhizomes form a substantial colony. Every part of Podophyllum is toxic except the ripened “apples,” although recent studies indicate the entire plant contains promising medicinal properties including anticancer and other healing compounds.
Heralding spring, this captivating woodland native of Asia Minor, the Himalayas and central China pushes a glossy green, folded umbrella-like leaf up through the soil at the top of each stem. A few weeks later, the deeply-lobed, 10 in. wide foliage with black, purple and brown mottling fully opens, and a lone cup-shaped white-to-rose blossom appears. The pyramidal bud remains closed on cloudy days and unfurls delicate, translucent petals when it’s sunny. The extraordinary show continues as glistening, egg-sized, scarlet-red fruit forms in late summer, suspended from the leaf axils on short stems. Every part of the Himalayan Mayapple is toxic except the ripened “apples,” although recent studies indicate the entire plant contains promising medicinal properties including anticancer and other healing compounds. Flourishing in moist, humus-rich niches, Podophyllum hexandrum’s fleshy roots take a couple years to establish, but eventually form a substantial colony.
Blooms April
Size: 18" high x 18" & spreading wide.
Zone 5/6.
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