Mayapple

Questions about mayapple

Does mayapple need sun or shade?

Mayapple grows in part shade (2 to 4 hours of sun, mostly in the morning) and shade (less than 2 hours of direct sun, or bright dappled light).

It wants soil that stays evenly moist, rich in organic matter, and a good soak in dry spells. Once settled in, it stands drought.

What zones does mayapple grow in?

USDA zones 3 to 8. It is hardy to zone 3, which means it survives winter nights down to about −30 °F (−34 °C).

Above zone 8 it struggles: the zones measure winter cold, but a plant's top zone usually means the summers are too hot or the winters too mild for it to rest.

Gardening in Canada? Use the USDA zone for your town: Canada's own zone map uses different numbers.

How far apart should mayapple be planted?

12 in (30 cm) apart, from the middle of one plant to the middle of the next. That is about its full width, so each plant keeps its own outline.

It grows 16 in (40 cm) tall. Give it the full distance from anything taller, or it will lean out towards the light.

How many mayapple plants do I need?

At 12 in apart, set out in staggered rows:

• 12 to fill 10 square feet (about 1 m²)
• 11 for a single row 10 ft (3 m) long
• 38 to fill a 4 × 8 ft bed on its own

In a mixed border, plant it as threes and fives, along the front and just behind it.

In the bed above, the planner used six in one group.

Is mayapple poisonous to dogs and cats?

Yes: severe toxicity to people, dogs, cats and horses. All parts except the ripe fruit are highly poisonous if eaten. The roots and sap can irritate skin.

Rated from NC State Extension and the ASPCA. Where references disagree, the more cautious rating is used.

Is there a pet-safe plant like mayapple?

These come closest to doing what mayapple does, and no toxicity is recorded for them:

• Foamflower: the same job in a bed; 6 in shorter, flowers late April to late May.
• New York fern: the same job in a bed and the same size; fine leaves, not bold, wants average soil.

Matched the way the planner's Swap button matches plants: the same job in a bed, then size, then flowering time.

Do deer eat mayapple?

Mostly not. NC State lists it as resistant to deer and rabbits. No plant is proof against a hungry deer in a hard winter, but this one is low on the menu.

Will mayapple spread?

It spreads sideways, by runners or roots; the risk of it taking over is moderate. Spreads by underground runners and can crowd its neighbours. Dig out the edges or divide every 2 to 3 years.

What does mayapple look like in winter?

Mayapple has long gone by winter: it dies down in summer, soon after flowering, and comes back in spring.

Is mayapple good for bees and butterflies?

Mayapple is visited by bees and specialist bees.

It is native to the United States and Canada.