Mayapple carpets the floors of eastern deciduous forests in early spring with paired umbrella-like leaves, sheltering a single white flower beneath. The ripe yellow fruit in late summer is edible and was consumed by indigenous peoples, but all other plant parts are highly toxic. Box turtles and raccoons are among the few animals that disperse the seeds.
Best time to see a Mayapple
The best time to see a Mayapple is March–April, when about 61% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 106,774 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
Not certain it is a Mayapple? What plant is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.
Recent Mayapple sightings near you
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