Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) which common names include Indian apple root, wild mandrake, and ground lemon is native to the North American continent. The plant is naturalized to parts of Europe. The hardiness zone of the mayapple is 3 to 8. The plant which can serve as a kind of ground cover is an herbaceous woodland herb. Mayapple grows perennially in a community of a shared rhizome. The plant spreads as a colony of dense foliage about a foot to a foot and a half high. The lush green, umbrella shaped leaves of the mayapple may shelter a fine white flower appearing in April or May. Then, out of that flower a fleshy oval shaped fruit about an inch or two long ripens to a golden yellow in the Summer. Indigenous and other smart peoples have foraged the fruit, which can be used in various kinds of cooking and also made into a jam. The mayapple contains lignans with anti-cancerous properties as well as flavonoids such as quercetin. The plant is medicinal and the fruit if you consume it will act to purge the body of toxins. The ripened fruit contains antibacterial and antiviral properties that fight against flus and even fungal infections. But even if you don’t like the tart flavor of your mayapple fruit, the robins, bluebirds, orioles, and thrushes will surely share it with you. Did you know that your cottage garden will be a favorite of the queen bumblebee as she awakens in the Spring to the rich, enticing nectar of your snowy white mayapple flowers. This is the truest queen you will ever have visit your home and garden, and every time I see a bumbler, I give a prayer of thanks. The mayapple prefers moist, well-drained soil and dappled shade, with the plant doing extremely well under deciduous trees. The mayapple only requires about three to six hours of sun a day. Portland Plant Paradise offers all shop customers a free consult and please simply contact us to discuss the life-giving properties of the mayapple for the creatures in your garden. This offer is $35 for one 12 inch organic rooted seedling. Free shipping. Please know that we do not mail out to PO Boxes without explicit customer permission in writing.
Portland Plant Paradise invites you to enjoy our plants and our free consult with every plant purchase. Please note: a customer consult with the owner of Portland Plant Paradise is required before our non-profit allows any prospective purchaser to take home any of our plant products. Portland Plant Paradise ethics requires our business to know that the prospective customer is snatching up the plant product for a humane purpose only. No payment is required for a prospective customer to schedule a consult. Just email us at portlandplantparadise@gmail.com to schedule your very first consult. Portland Plant Paradise will not mail you any plant product until we have our first consult, no exception. Portland Plant Paradise will also not provide any product refunds, no exceptions. Look forward to meeting you.
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