Country dwellers might want to pay attention to and preserve one of our woodland East Texas natives, the Mayapple, Podophyllum peltatum. It is sometimes called Devil's apple, hog apple, Indian apple or umbrella plant.
In the Tyler area the Mayapple starts appearing almost overnight in very early March in undisturbed, well drained, hardwood woodlands. Height is 6-18" and they grow in large patches. Each single stalk is topped with one or two broad, deeply divided leaves that resemble umbrellas. The mature two-leaved plants frequently produce a white, or rarely pink, waxy flower at the V where the two leaves join the stem. A few weeks after flower formation in April the flower develops into a yellow apple-like berry that later ripens. By the end of June the plant has completely disappeared.
Mayapples colonize by rhizomes. Propagation is by seed or root division while dormant. It is not commonly available in the general nursery trade but if obtained from a specialty nursery in a pot, buy a good thick pot. Divide the roots gently to make several plants and put them in a small drift several feet apart to multiple in a wooded sloping hardwood forest.
The rhizomes are processed and used in some medications but the plant is considered toxic except for the berry. I'd wear gloves to plant Mayapples.
The delight of this little native is in the overnight appearance of massive green groundcover on the forest floor under deciduous trees at a time when the landscape is mostly brown tree trunks and brown leaves. Don't mow it and don't destroy it. Don't plant other flowers among them as they like to be alone.
Sandy Wilson, Smith County Master Gardener intern
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