Vanilla Leaf aka Deer Tongue Plant

The forgotten, flavoring plant for tobacco! Here’s a bit of obscure Southern history.  

Until the ’70s, our vanilla-scented leaves of this handsome native perennial were collected in the wilds, from Bluffton to Brunswick, for sale to cigar makers.   (Read Our Essay About This)

Apple green leaves look sort of like a stiff little hosta. Leaves don’t really smell great till you dry them a bit. Masses of tiny purple flowers wave around in August. On skinny stems, the flowers seem to float. 

A great garden plant for part shade, vanilla leaf also makes a cute container plant. And is definitely a conversation piece. 

We ship well-rooted plants in plastic growing bags, ready to pot up or plant out!