A beautiful ground cover plant that is not edible, despite what the name might suggest. The foliage has a faint vanilla fragrance when dried. Look for large beds of Vanilla leaf covering the patches of the forest floor at Silver Falls. Vanilla Leaf has a single large, sweet-scented leaf that is divided into three leaflets with scalloped edges that resemble wings. It holds a spike of small white flowers with long stamens giving a starry look. The sweet smelling dried leaves can act as an insect repellant.
- Rarity: Common
- Flowering Time: Early Spring-Mid Summer
- Life Cycle: Perennial
- Height: 8-16 inches
- Habitat: Coastal, West-Side Forest
- Native: Yes
Sources: Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest, Oregon Flora Project
