Grow in average, medium moisture, well-drained soil in part shade to full shade. Prefers rich, moist, humusy soils. Often forms large colonies in the wild. As with many of the early spring wildflowers, Mayapple goes dormant in summer.
A perennial herb with its stem unbranched. It can be found in forests or natural areas in rich woods and fields, pastures. It often grows in colonies. The plant is dormant in the summer months, the foliage disappears. Each plant will have 1-2 large, rounded, umbrella-like, deeply divided lobed leaves that are attached to the stalk near the middle of the leaf.
Each plants 1" solitary white flower. which is 6-9 parted, is seen as nodding and hangs in axil between the plants 2 leaves. The sepals are shed as the flower opens, revealing 6 -9 waxy petals and 12 to 18 stamens with bright yellow anthers. Plants having only one umbrella-like leaf will not flower.
The fruit is apple-like, yellow when ripe and about the size of a small lemon. However, unripened fruit, roots and leaves are highly toxic if ingested.
Native to Eastern US.