Mayapple (Wild Lemon) (Podophyllum peltatum)

Family: Berberidaceae | Edibility: Edible (2/5)

Woodland colony-forming perennial with large umbrella-like leaves; produces a single nodding white blossom and a fragrant golden fruit.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Fruit

Harvest Seasons: Early Summer, Fall, Late Summer

Flavor & Culinary Uses

Fully ripe fruit is intensely aromatic, tasting like passion fruit, tropical guava, lemon drop, and pawpaw. — ONLY eaten when completely soft, yellow, translucent, and fragrant (seeds discarded); Cooked into tropical-flavored wild mayapple jam or marmalade; CRITICAL: Leaves, roots, stems, and unripe green fruit are poisonous (contain podophyllin); only eat ripe yellow fruit pulp!

Habitat & North American Range

Rich moist deciduous hardwood forests, ravines, and river valleys. (Zone 3, Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8)