The vanilla orchid is the queen of spices, the sole producer of the long black pods whose flavor produces some of the most delicate desserts and flavorings. Like many other orchids, vanilla is a tree-climbing vine. Cultivated primarily in Mexico, Tahiti, Indonesia, and Madagascar, in the US it can also be grown in mild coastal regions, or indoors if given warm temperatures, indirect light, and humidity.
Most vanilla orchids only set pods on mature vines more than 10 feet long, but they are worth the wait. In the meantime, these orchids make an excellent conversation piece and a handsome houseplant. The flowers are white and creamy, as if they somehow know their destiny is ice cream…