Plant of the Week

Plant of the week

Sunday, May 2, 2004

MAYAPPLE, OR UMBRELLA PLANT

Botanical name: Podophyllum peltatum

Description: Found growing in patches in woods or shady gardens, mayapples have distinctive leaves that reach 12 inches in diameter. When the leaves close, they resemble a closed umbrella on a straight, slender handle. The small white flower on each plant is hidden under the leaves. Mayapples bloom in late April or early May and produce a small fruit that ripens in late summer. It’s easy to see why Podophyllum peltatum is nicknamed “Mayapple.”

Challenges: Shade and loamy soil are necessary for mayapples to thrive in a garden.

Did you know: All parts of the plant, except the ripe fruit, are extremely toxic even though American Indians used the root medicinally and it is now scientifically analyzed, purified and used in some drugs for cancer and genital warts. Just don’t try to self- medicate with plants from the garden because it’s impossible for laymen to analyze the quantity and quality of a plant.

Where to order: Minor’s Garden Center in Milwaukee and other local garden centers.

— Maryalice Koehne