Podophyllum 'Spotty Dotty', Spotty Dotty mayapple
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Perennials

Podophyllum 'Spotty Dotty'

Spotty Dotty mayapple

BerberidaceaeAsia

At a Glance

TypePerennial
HabitClumping
FoliageDeciduous
Height12–20 inches (30–50 cm)
Width18–30 inches (45–75 cm)
Maturity3 years

Growing Zones

USDA Hardiness Zones

5 - 9
Zone 5
Zone 6
Zone 7
Zone 8
Zone 9
These zones indicate the coldest temperatures this plant can typically survive.
Frost Tolerancehardy

Key Features

Attracts Pollinators
Deer Resistant
Maintenancelow

Overview

Podophyllum 'Spotty Dotty' is a vigorous hybrid perennial in the family Berberidaceae, of Asian Podophyllum / Sinopodophyllum hybrid parentage, selected for highly ornamental mottled foliage. Plants produce large, nearly circular, peltate leaves 10–18 inches (25–45 cm) across with distinctive chocolate-brown to purple-black spotting and blotching over a green to chartreuse base, creating a dramatic, uniquely patterned canopy. The variegation is most intense on emerging leaves in spring, when the chocolate tones are strongest; leaves mature to green with lighter mottling. In late spring, clusters of deep rose-pink to dusky pink, nodding, cup-shaped flowers hang beneath the large patterned leaves. The foliage persists through the growing season until autumn frost — unlike the North American mayapple it does not go fully dormant in summer. 'Spotty Dotty' combines the bold foliage scale of the Asian mayapples with distinctive ornamental leaf marking unique among hardy perennials. All parts are toxic.

Native Range

'Spotty Dotty' is a hybrid cultivar of garden origin with Asian Podophyllum parentage; it has no native range. Parent species are native to montane forest floors of China, the Himalayas, and adjacent regions. Not native to North America.

Suggested Uses

Podophyllum 'Spotty Dotty' is among the most visually striking foliage plants for the Pacific Northwest shade garden, providing a unique chocolate-mottled canopy visible from across the garden. Particularly effective at the front of a shaded border where the patterned foliage can be closely appreciated. Combines dramatically with plants of contrasting texture — fine-leaved ferns (Polystichum, Dryopteris), linear-leaved Epimedium, and delicate-flowered Disporum. The deep rose spring flowers complement the chocolate leaf tones. Plant as a specimen or in groups of three for maximum foliage impact. Exceptional for collectors and gardeners seeking unusual shade plants with long seasonal interest.

How to Identify

Podophyllum 'Spotty Dotty' is identified by its large, nearly circular, peltate leaves 10–18 inches (25–45 cm) across with strongly mottled, chocolate-brown to dark purple spotting and blotching on a green to chartreuse background — among the most distinctively patterned foliage of any hardy shade perennial. Emerging leaves in spring show the strongest chocolate coloration. Nodding clusters of deep rose-pink, cup-shaped flowers hang beneath the leaves in late spring. The peltate leaf form and the unique chocolate-on-green mottling are together immediately diagnostic.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1' - 1'8"
Width/Spread1'6" - 2'6"

Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years

Colors

Flower Colors

pink
red

Foliage Colors

green
brown
purple

Fall Foliage Colors

yellow

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~4 weeks
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Spring
Podophyllum 'Spotty Dotty' blooms in late spring, typically May through June in Pacific Northwest gardens. Clusters of deep rose-pink to dusky pink, nodding, cup-shaped flowers 1–1.5 inches (2.5–4 cm) across hang beneath the leaf canopy on short stalks. The ornamental foliage is the primary feature, with the chocolate mottling at its most intense on emerging leaves in early spring and persisting with some variation through the growing season.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Deep rose-pink to dusky pink; cup-shaped, nodding, in clusters beneath leaves

Foliage Description

Large, nearly circular, peltate; green to chartreuse with distinctive chocolate-brown to dark purple-black spotting and blotching; mottling most intense on emerging spring leaves

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

Partial Shade
Full Shade
Tolerates up to 4 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.0(Neutral)
357912
Soil Types
loampeat
Drainage
well drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2–3 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Plant in partial to full shade in consistently moist, humus-rich, well-drained to average soil. 'Spotty Dotty' thrives in the cool, moist conditions of Pacific Northwest woodland gardens. Incorporate generous leaf mold or compost at planting. Plant the horizontal rhizome just below the soil surface. Water consistently throughout the growing season. The mottled foliage color is most intense in good filtered light — plants in deep shade may show less pronounced variegation. Space at 24–36 inches (60–90 cm) to allow for the large leaf spread. Once established, minimal maintenance is required. All parts are toxic.

Pruning

Cut all stems back to ground level in late autumn after frost kills the foliage. Remove any tattered or damaged leaves during the growing season. No other pruning is required. Allow the plant to establish undisturbed for maximum vigor.

Pruning Schedule

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fall

Maintenance Level

low

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Toxic to pets and humans