Raccoonberry Podophyllum peltatum

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling

poh-doh-FY-lum pel-TAY-tum

This plant has high severity poison characteristics.

Description

A perennial herb with its stem unbranched. It can be found in forests or natural areas in rich woods and fields, pastures. It often grows in colonies. The plant is dormant in the summer months, the foliage disappears. Each plant will have 1-2 large, rounded, umbrella-like, deeply divided lobed leaves that are attached to the stalk near the middle of the leaf.

Each plants 1" solitary white flower. which is 6-9 parted, is seen as nodding and hangs in axil between the plants 2 leaves. The sepals are shed as the flower opens, revealing 6 -9 waxy petals and 12 to 18 stamens with bright yellow anthers. Plants having only one umbrella-like leaf will not flower.

The fruit is apple-like, yellow when ripe and about the size of a small lemon. However, unripened fruit and leaves are highly toxic if ingested.

See this plant in the following landscape:

Shaded Slope

Attributes:
Genus:

Podophyllum

Species:

peltatum

Family:

Berberidaceae

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Country Or Region Of Origin:

South East Canada to Central & Eastern U.S.A

Edibility:

EDIBLE PARTS: Ripe (yellow and soft) fruit is edible raw but in limited quantity. CAUTION: The roots and leaves are poisonous. Do NOT eat. HARVEST TIME: Collect in August or September. Only collect fruit from areas you know have NOT been treated with pesticides. SAFE HANDLING PROCEDURE: Wash fruit thoroughly with warm water. Do not use dish detergent or any type of sanitizer. These products can leave a residue. The fruit has a lemon-like flavor and can be used to make jams, jellies, and marmalade.

Dimensions:

Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.

Width: 0 ft. 9 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.

Whole Plant Traits:
Plant Type:

Edible

Native Plant

Perennial

Poisonous

Wildflower

Habit/Form:

Erect

Horizontal

Open

Cultural Conditions:
Light:

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)

Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)

Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Soil Texture:

High Organic Matter

Soil Drainage:

Moist

Occasionally Wet

Available Space To Plant:

Less than 12 inches

NC Region:

Coastal

Mountains

Piedmont

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:

3a, 3b, 4b, 4a, 5b, 5a, 6b, 6a, 7a, 7b, 8b, 8a

Fruit:
Fruit Color:

Gold/Yellow

Green

Fruit Value To Gardener:

Edible

Display/Harvest Time:

Spring

Summer

Fruit Description:

Fleshy-green apple-like fruit, gold in color when ripe. The fruit is edible only when ripe.

Flowers:
Flower Color:

White

Flower Bloom Time:

Spring

Flower Petals:

7 - 20 petals/rays

Flower Size:

1-3 inches

Flower Description:

1 in. solitary flower borne at the fork of the two leaf stalks; the six sepals are shed as the flower opens; 6 to 9 waxy white petals; 12 to 18 stamens with bright yellow anthers.

Leaves:
Leaf Color:

Green

Leaf Value To Gardener:

Showy

Leaf Type:

Simple

Leaf Arrangement:

Rosulate

Leaf Margin:

Lobed

Hairs Present:

No

Leaf Description:

Pair of long-stalked umbrella-like leaves, attached to the stalk near the middle of the leaf; leaves deeply divided into 5 to 7 coarsely toothed lobes and 2-clefted at the end; nonflowering plants have a single umbrella-like leaf at the top of the stem.

Stem:
Stem Is Aromatic:

No

Landscape:
Landscape Location:

Naturalized Area

Woodland

Landscape Theme:

Drought Tolerant Garden

Native Garden

Attracts:

Bees

Specialized Bees

Resistance To Challenges:

Drought

Dry Soil

Problems:

Poisonous to Humans

Problem for Cats

Problem for Dogs

Problem for Horses

Poisonous to Humans:
Poison Severity:

High

Poison Symptoms:

The unripe fruit and leaves cause salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, excitement, headache, fever, lethargy, panting, coma (rare); dermal - redness, skin ulcers.

Poison Toxic Principle:

Podophyllin

Causes Contact Dermatitis:

No

Poison Part:

Fruits

Leaves

Plant DetailShow Menu

Raccoonberry Podophyllum peltatum

Other Common Name(s):