Podophyllums: The Mayapples of Asia and America

A shady bed with Podophyllum ‘Spotty Dotty’ and a Tiarella in flower. Author’s photographs, except as noted

A morning stroll in my woodland front yard with a garden writer elicited this response:

“Is it real?” she asked. “Touch it,” I implored. “Oh my God! It’s like a leather mushroom!” came the squealing reply. Beads of dew trickled off the oddly mottled leaves, while I pointed to the botanical zoo around her, “Welcome to the wonderful world of Podophyllum.”

Flowers on Podophyllum hexandrum, among the largest of the genus and typically up-facing. Photograph by Diana Reeck

Podophyllum is an odd genus of herbs in the barberry family (Berberidaceae). Known as Dysosma in early texts, Podophyllum is joined by barrenwort (Epimedium), inside-out flower (Vancouveria), and vanilla-leaf (Achlys) as herbaceous members of that otherwise mostly woody family. The bizarre, oddly marked leaves look like they belong on an old Star Trek set rather than in the woodland garden, but they definitely catch your eye. Dan Hinkley (another podophyllumoph...