Northwest Blooms · Perennials
Podophyllum versipelle ‘Spotty Dotty’
Chocolate Spotted Chinese Mayapple
- Family
- Berberidaceae
- Height
- 2 to 3 feet
- Width
- 2 to 3 feet
- Flower color
- Red to burgundy
- Foliage color
- Mottled green with dark maroon spots
- Bloom time
- Late spring to early summer
- Light
- Partial shade to full shade
- Water
- Moderate
- Maintenance
- Low
- Wildlife
- Shade-loving pollinators
About this plant
Podophyllum versipelle 'Spotty Dotty', commonly known as Chocolate Spotted Chinese Mayapple, is an impressive perennial prized for its unique, mottled foliage and intriguing flowers. This woodland plant features large, umbrella-like leaves adorned with dark maroon spots, giving it a distinctive, exotic appearance. Each leaf can measure up to 12-14 inches across, emerging in spring with a bronze tint and maturing to their characteristic green and spotted pattern. In late spring to early summer, 'Spotty Dotty' produces small, bell-shaped red to burgundy flowers nestled beneath the foliage, occasionally followed by small yellowish-green fruit. Thriving in partial to full shade, it is ideal for woodland gardens, shaded borders, and containers, pairing well with other shade-loving plants such as ferns, hostas, and hellebores.
Works well in
Borders · Shade Gardens · Woodland Gardens · Pollinator Gardens · Cut Flower Gardens
Companion plants
Sweet woodruff · Foamflowers · Epimediums · Hostas · Bleeding hearts · Solomon's seal
Design tip
The long summer show pairs well with plants that peak earlier, keeping one area interesting for months. Cooler light suits it, so tuck it on the north side of a shrub or wall where the soil stays even.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at the Center for Urban Horticulture and in the perennial border at the Bellevue Botanical Garden.
