Is May Apple deer resistant?
Podophyllum peltatum
Plant typePerennialHardinessZones 3–8LightFull shade to part shadeMature height12–18 inBloomSpring
MaintenanceLow, mostly leave it alone
Native range36 US states
Toxic to cats and dogs if eaten
About May Apple
Umbrella leaves that carpet woodland in spring, then vanish entirely by midsummer, so pair it with something that fills the gap. All parts except the ripe fruit are toxic.
Soil and care
- Soil pH
- 5 to 6.5
- Drainage
- Consistently moist
- Water
- Moderate
- Spacing
- 18 to 24 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Maintenance
- Low
Similar to May Apple
Other perennials with the same deer rating.
- Anise HyssopAgastache sp.Zones 4–9, genus rangeRarely damaged
- Basket of GoldAurinia saxatilisZones 3–7Rarely damaged
- Bearded IrisIris germanicaZones 3–9Rarely damaged
- Bigleaf GoldenrayLigularia dentataZones 4–8Rarely damaged
- Bleeding HeartLamprocapnos spectabilisZones 3–9Rarely damaged
- Butter and EggsLinaria vulgarisZones 3–9Rarely damaged
Where May Apple grows
Hardy across most of these 50 states on zone range alone. Mountain and coastal areas sit outside the ranges used here, so check your own zone before ordering.
- Pennsylvanianative
- New Jerseynative
- New Yorknative
- Connecticutnative
- Massachusettsnative
- Virginianative
- Marylandnative
- Michigannative
- Wisconsinnative
- Ohionative
- Indiananative
- Illinoisnative
- Minnesotanative
- Missourinative
- North Carolinanative
- Tennesseenative
- Georgianative
- Texasnative
- Colorado
- California
- Oregon
- Washington
- New Hampshirenative
- Vermontnative
- Mainenative
- Rhode Islandnative
- Delawarenative
- West Virginianative
- Kentuckynative
- South Carolinanative
- Floridanative
- Alabamanative
- Mississippinative
- Louisiananative
- Arkansasnative
- Oklahomanative
- Kansasnative
- Nebraskanative
- Iowanative
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- Montana
- Wyoming
- Idaho
- Utah
- Nevada
- Arizona
- New Mexico
- Alaska
- District of Columbianative
Highlighted states are within its native range according to the USDA PLANTS database, where it is native to 36 US states in total.
Browse from here
Every list May Apple belongs to.
Hardy in these zones
Common questions about May Apple
- Is May Apple deer resistant?
- May Apple (Podophyllum peltatum) is rated Rarely Damaged on the Rutgers NJAES four-tier scale. Deer almost always leave this alone.
- What hardiness zones does May Apple grow in?
- May Apple is hardy in USDA zones 3 to 8. Outside that range it will either not survive winter or will struggle with summer heat.
- Does May Apple grow in shade?
- Yes. May Apple tolerates full shade to part shade, which makes it one of the options for a shaded bed where deer also browse.
- How big does May Apple get?
- Mature height is roughly 12–18 in. Growth rate is moderate.
- Is May Apple toxic to dogs or cats?
- Yes. The ASPCA lists May Apple as toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. Site it away from where animals graze, or choose something else if you have a dog that chews.