Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) is in the barberry family family (Berberidaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 5,299 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Nationally it blooms mainly from April to May, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Mayapple: observations by month (U.S.)
About Mayapple
Podophyllum is an herbaceous perennial plant in the family Berberidaceae, described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753. In the past, several species were included in the genus, but all but one have been transferred to other genera (Dysosma, Pilea, and Sinopodophyllum). The one remaining species is Podophyllum peltatum, with common names mayapple, American mandrake, wild mandrake, and ground lemon. It is widespread across most of the eastern United States and southeastern Canada.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Mayapple by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 562 | April | Apr–May |
| Virginia | 510 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Ohio | 472 | May | Apr–May |
| Pennsylvania | 432 | May | Apr–May |
| Illinois | 413 | May | Apr–May |
| Kentucky | 295 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Maryland | 289 | April | Apr–May |
| Tennessee | 238 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Indiana | 233 | April | Apr–May |
| New York | 222 | May | May–May |
| Wisconsin | 208 | May | May–May |
| Missouri | 181 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Michigan | 163 | May | May–May |
| Arkansas | 125 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Alabama | 101 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Mississippi | 96 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Georgia | 94 | April | Apr–Apr |
| West Virginia | 93 | April | Apr–May |
| New Jersey | 85 | May | Apr–May |
| Iowa | 73 | May | May–May |
| South Carolina | 62 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Texas | 51 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Delaware | 50 | May | Apr–May |
| District of Columbia | 47 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Massachusetts | 42 | May | May–May |
| Kansas | 36 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Louisiana | 33 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Oklahoma | 26 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Minnesota | 24 | May | May–May |
| Florida | 12 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Connecticut | 10 | May | May–May |
| Vermont | 8 | May | May–Jun |
| New Hampshire | 5 | May | May–May |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (barberry family)
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Mayapple?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from April to May.
Where is Mayapple most often seen?
The most observations come from North Carolina, Virginia, Ohio.