Vanilla Leaf

Vanilla leaf is a shade-loving perennial herb native to forests of the Pacific Northwest. It is easily recognized by its distinctive leaves, each divided into three broad, fan-shaped leaflets which release a pleasant vanilla-like fragrance when dried. In spring, it produces slender spikes of tiny, white, star-shaped flowers that rise above the foliage. During the hot part of the summer, the plant goes dormant and the leaves die back, only to emerge again in the spring. Ecologically, vanilla leaf forms a lush groundcover in forest understories, helping to stabilize soils and suppress invasive species while contributing to the diversity of shaded woodland habitats. Indigenous peoples historically used its aromatic leaves as an insect repellent and in traditional medicine.