It’s big, bold, and it brings instant magic to a shady spot

I admit it – I’m a big fan of big leaves. Maybe it’s because I’m a big fan of (garden) drama. Maybe it’s because I’m a huge proponent of linear alignment in the landscape. But mostly it’s because I’m drawn to scale and proportion. Years ago, I carved out a low area of my property and built a seating wall around it, surrounding it with plants with big leaves. Spending time there, I found my mind wandering to happy childhood memories that had been forgotten.

Why? Because I felt physically small when surrounded by plants with huge leaves. Through this unexpected discovery, I learned that gardens can be designed to express specific emotions and memories. My favorite plants for creating this kind of garden magic are Chinese mayapples. I’m obsessed with them. Although I grow and adore our native mayapple (Potophyllum peltatum, zones 3–8), I prefer the Chinese species and hybrids.

While our native favorite fades seasonally after blooming in late spring, most Chinese mayapples stay beautiful and vibrant until a hard frost in the fall. Many of these plants display wonderfully shaped leaves, but it is the solid-green varieties that hold a special place in my heart and in my garden. I love the northern Chinese mayapple. It is one of the easiest of this species to grow. The attractive leaves are dark, glossy green and deeply lobed.

This robust beauty produces clusters of red flowers that hang like fruit beneath the leaves, bringing back memories of childhood treasure hunts in the woods. But the most amazing thing about this plant is its size. The leaves can reach 18 inches wide atop stems that can reach 36 inches tall and as wide as a dinner-plate. An added bonus is that the Northern Chinese Mayapple spreads via underground rhizomes, so it quickly (though subtly) builds an impressive mass. It is surprisingly deer and rabbit resistant.

The best way to use this specimen is to pair it with shade-loving plants with thin leaves, such as Himalayan Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum venustum, zones 4–8). It looks great paired with dwarf hostas such as ‘Blue Mouse Ears’ (Hosta ‘Blue Mouse Ears’, zones 3–8), foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia, zones 4–9), or any epimedium (Epimedium spp. and cvs., zones 4–9). Do yourself and your inner child a favor by adding some magic to the garden with Northern Chinese Mayapple

Northern Chinese Mayapple

Potophyllum versicolor subsp. borealis

Zones: 6–9

Requirements: Part to full shade; moist,

well-drained, humus-rich soil

Native Land: China