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Carphephorus spp.
vanilla plant
Southeastern United States coastal plain
Overview
Carphephorus is a genus of a few perennial wildflowers in the aster family (Asteraceae), native to the pine savannas and flatwoods of the southeastern United States. Plants rise from a basal rosette of narrow leaves on erect, often hairy stems 1-4 feet (30-120 cm) tall. Through late summer and autumn the stems carry flat-topped or branched clusters of small flower heads in pink to lavender-purple, made up only of disk florets without the ray petals seen in many asters. The genus draws large numbers of butterflies and other pollinators to its late nectar. Leaves of Carphephorus odoratissimus, the vanilla plant or deer tongue, give off a vanilla scent as they dry, from coumarin in the foliage, and were once used to scent tobacco. The plants grow on acid, sandy soils and are tied to fire-maintained habitats, flowering strongly after the periodic burns that keep their open pine country clear. In gardens they need sun and sharp drainage, and they fade where soil is rich, wet, or heavily shaded.
Native Range
The genus is native to the coastal plain of the southeastern United States, from the Carolinas south through Georgia and Florida and west along the Gulf. The plants grow in pine flatwoods, wet and dry savannas, and sandhills, habitats shaped by frequent low fires.Suggested Uses
Plants are used in native and pollinator gardens, meadow and prairie plantings, and restorations of pine savanna and sandhill habitats. The late purple flowers fit butterfly gardens that aim to carry nectar into autumn. The vanilla plant is also grown for its fragrant dried foliage.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 4'
Width/Spread1' - 2'
Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years
Bloom Information
Flowering comes late in the season, from August into October, when much of the surrounding vegetation has finished. The clustered purple heads open over several weeks and carry heavy butterfly traffic. Seeds ripen into small dry fruits tipped with bristles that catch the wind.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
pink to lavender-purpleFoliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight