Plant
Carphephorus odoratissimus
Carphephorus odoratissimusAlso known as Deer's Tongue, Carolina Vanilla, Vanilla Plant
Vanillaleaf forms a basal rosette of smooth, thick leaves that release a rich vanilla aroma when dried, owing to high coumarin levels. Stiff, erect stems emerge in late summer, topped with broad, flat clusters of vibrant magenta flower heads that attract butterflies and native bees. Native to southeastern coastal plain ecosystems, it relies on periodic low-intensity fires to keep woody plants from shading out its open pine savanna habitat.
ScentedFloweringNative
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyPhotosynthetic
Predators
- White-tailed Deer
- Grasshoppers
- Caterpillars
ThreatsFire suppression, habitat destruction, land development
HabitatsPine flatwoods, wet savannas, bog margins
Life spanPerennial
Classification
- FamilyAsteraceae
- SpeciesCarphephorus odoratissimus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Scent Spotting: Lightly brush dried leaves to notice the sweet vanilla fragrance.
- Best Viewing Time: Visit open pine flatwoods between late August and October for peak bloom.
- Habitat Clues: Look for plants growing alongside pitcher plants and longleaf pines.
Frequent Companion no rights reserved, uploaded by Dale Knox · cc0
Habitat Companion (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Image unavailableClose Relative 
Close Relative Doug McGrady from Warwick, RI, USA / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
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