Vanillaleaf

Description

Botanical Name:  Carphephorus odoratissimus

Common Name:  Vanillaleaf,, Vanilla-Plant, Deer’s Tongue

Description:  This is a gorgeous Florida native perennial with leaves that smell like vanilla. How fun is that!

The flowers of Vanillaleaf are purple/lavender and bloom late summer into fall. The flower stems have many small purple flowers in terminal, flat-topped inflorescences. Its basal leaves are straplike, are 6 inches to 1 foot in length, and form a rosette. Stem leaves are clasping and reduced in size as they ascend the stem. They are alternately arranged. Stems are glabrous. The basal rosette grows 1-2 feet tall, with the flowering stem growing another 2-3 feet. Mature plants will add pups next to the main rosette. Is deer and bunny resistant.

Its native habitat is in dry to mesic pine flatwoods, cutthroat seeps, sandhills, flatwoods, bogs, pond margins. It grows in moist to moderately dry, sandy soils. Although Vanillaleaf likes moist soils, it does not tolerate having consistently wet roots. It can tolerate drought once established, but requires plenty of moisture during hot summer months.. Plant it in sun, part sun, or part shade.

Its flowers attract butterflies, native bees, and other pollinators. Is the host plant for the Little Metalmark Butterfly.

This species is divided into two varieties from two different Florida growing areas:  C. odoratissimus is found in the Panhandle and north and central peninsula. C. odoratissimus var. subtropicanus (sometimes known simply as C. subtropicanus) is endemic to the central and southern peninsula. Their ranges overlap in Citrus, Sumter, Orange, and Osceola counties. The leaves of C. odoratissimus var. subtropicanus emit little to no vanilla-like scent. Its common name is false vanillaleaf.

Vanillaleaf has been used as a folk remedy for coughs, malaria, and neuroses. However, it is not considered edible.

Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray.

This plant in 1-gallon containers is 5 – 8 inches tall.

Plant Lore: The common name, Vanillaleaf, refers to the vanilla-like scent that the wilting leaves emit when crushed. which is due to the high (1.6%) content of coumarin as its major aromatic constituent. The species epithet, odoratissimus, is from the Latin for “most fragrant” and also alludes to the leaves’ scent.

Florida Hardiness Zones 8 – 9