This spring ephemeral is sport fantastic coarse umbrella like foilage for a gorgeous high contrast in the garden. Mayapple leaves open in late March or early April (in NC), flower, fruit and disappear in summer. They will colonize to make a lovely temporary mass display. Interplant them with colombine, green and gold, or Pennsylvania sedge to be sure there are no gaps when they go dormant in summer.
 
Mayapple is pollianted by long tongue bees. Box turtles and other small mammals eat the fruit. Deer and rabbit do not eat this plant. Unripe fruit, foilage and roots are poisonous. May cause contact dermatitis. Black Walnut and drought tolerant.
While it prefers moist well-drained soil, I have had good fortune testing it in less favorable conditions.