Vanilla

Vanilla planifolia

Vanilla

Franz Eugen Köhler, Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Orchidaceae
Genus:
Vanilla
Species:
Vanilla planifolia

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Forb/herb , Vine
Height:
12-20 ft
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
High
Bloom Months:
mar, apr, may, jun, jul, aug
Bloom Colors:
greenish-yellow, white, yellow

Native Range

United States: Florida, Guam, Puerto Rico, Palau, Virgin Islands

Reported Fauna Sightings

Bees: Nevada bumble bee (Bombus nevadensis), Nevada bumble bee (Bombus nevadensis) Butterflies:Ceraunus Blue (Hemiargus ceraunus), Ceraunus Blue (Hemiargus ceraunus), Clouded Skipper (Lerema accius), Clouded Skipper (Lerema accius), Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae), Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae), Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia), Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia), Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Pterourus glaucus), Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Pterourus glaucus), Gulf Fritillary (Dione vanillae), Gulf Fritillary (Dione vanillae), Little Yellow (Pyrisitia lisa), Little Yellow (Pyrisitia lisa), Long-tailed Skipper (Urbanus proteus), Long-tailed Skipper (Urbanus proteus), Ocola Skipper (Panoquina ocola), Ocola Skipper (Panoquina ocola), Palamedes Swallowtail (Pterourus palamedes), Phaon Crescent (Phyciodes phaon), Phaon Crescent (Phyciodes phaon), Red-banded Hairstreak (Calycopis cecrops), Red-banded Hairstreak (Calycopis cecrops), Southern Broken-Dash (Polites otho), Spicebush Swallowtail (Pterourus troilus), Tawny-edged Skipper (Polites themistocles), Tawny-edged Skipper (Polites themistocles), Twin-spot Skipper (Oligoria maculata), Twin-spot Skipper (Oligoria maculata), Whirlabout (Polites vibex), Whirlabout (Polites vibex), White Peacock (Anartia jatrophae), White Peacock (Anartia jatrophae), Zarucco Duskywing (Erynnis zarucco), Zarucco Duskywing (Erynnis zarucco)

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
rich, well-drained loamy soil
pH:
6.0 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
consistently moist
Notes:
native to tropical forests, prefers organic matter