Carphephorus corymbosus (coastalplain chaffhead)

Carphephorus spp.

vanilla plant

Asteraceae

Southeastern United States coastal plain

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Drought Tolerant Fragrant (moderate)

Native to North America

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterMedium · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 7–9

Overview

Carphephorus spp. 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

Look for erect stems topped with clusters of small purple to pink flower heads that lack ray petals, giving each head a fuzzy, brush-like look. The leaves are narrow and crowded low on the stem, largest in a basal rosette and smaller upward. In the vanilla plant, dried leaves smell distinctly of vanilla, a quick way to confirm that species.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1' - 4'

Width/Spread1' - 2'

Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~6 weeks

Summer Fall

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-purple

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

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

Soil Requirements

pH Range4.5 - 6.5(Acidic)

357912

Soil Types

sand loam

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2-3 years from seed

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Plants grow in full sun on acid, sandy, sharply drained soil with a pH of about 4.5 to 6.5. The genus tolerates seasonal dryness and lean ground, and stands weaken in rich, fertile, or constantly wet soil. In the wild the plants depend on periodic fire to hold back shrubs and trees, and garden stands do well in open, sunny sites that mimic that habitat. Watering helps establish young plants, after which most species endure drought. Cutting or burning old growth in late winter clears the way for spring shoots. Few pests trouble the foliage in well-drained ground.

Pruning

Little pruning is needed beyond cutting spent flowering stems back to the basal rosette after bloom or in late winter. Where fire is part of the planting, a controlled late-winter burn clears old growth and stimulates fresh shoots. Dead leaves are tidied from the rosette as needed.