Sinopodophyllum hexandrum

RHS Plant Profile

Himalayan may apple

Other common names

Himalayan mandrake

Synonyms

Podophyllum hendersonii hort.
Podophyllum hexandrum

Herbaceous Perennial

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Has deeply 3-5 lobed leaves, green variably mottled with purple, which expand fully, up to 25cm across, after flowering in late spring and summer. Stems at flowering to 30cm in height. Flowers pinkish or white, with yellow stamens. Berries scarlet, egg-shaped, borne on short, drooping peduncles in late summer

Position

Full shade, Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.5-1 metres
Max Height: 0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full shade Partial shade

Aspect: North–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H7

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Berberidaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Trailing
Potentially harmful: All parts of the plant are highly toxic if ingested. Wear gloves and wash hands after handling
Genus: Sinopodophyllum are rhizomatous perennials with creeping rootstocks producing 2-branched petioles, each branch bearing a large, usually peltately divided, umbrella-like leaf blade. 9-petalled, cup-shaped flowers are borne on short stems from the junction of the leaf branches, followed by red or yellow fruit
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: Himalaya, W China

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in a humus-rich, moist, fertile soil in full or partial shade

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in containers in an open frame or by division in spring or late summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Low Maintenance
Underplanting of roses and shrubs
Wall side borders

Pruning

Cut back the old stems in autumn

Pests

May be susceptible to slug damage on young leaves in spring

Diseases

Generally disease-free