West Indian Vanilla

Vanilla pompona

Native to:
Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guam, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panamá, Peru, Puerto Rico, Suriname, Trinidad-Tobago, Venezuela, Windward Is.

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Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Orchidaceae
Genus:
Vanilla
Species:
Vanilla pompona
USDA Symbol:
VAPO2

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Forb/herb , Vine
Height:
1500 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
Low
Bloom Months:
mar,apr,may
Bloom Colors:
yellow, greenish-yellow

Garden & Ecology Notes

Fragrant:
Yes

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
rich, well-drained loamy soil
pH:
5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
consistently moist
Notes:
prefers organic matter-rich environments

Propagation & Germination

Notes:
Dust seeds require symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi or sterile asymbiotic agar medium for germination; conventional cold stratification is not applicable.