Achlys triphylla

Common Names

Vanilla Leaf, Deer Foot, Sweet After Death

Summary

Vanilla Leaf, Achlys triphylla, is a herbaceous perennial in Berberidaceae native to the Pacific Northwest from British Columbia to northern California. It grows from creeping rhizomes to form a shade-loving groundcover in moist conifer forests and woodland understories, typically 8–16 inches tall and 12–24 inches wide; leaves consist of three fan-shaped leaflets with scalloped margins, and dried foliage carries a vanilla fragrance. In spring to early summer, it bears white bottlebrush-like spikes (1–3 inches) of small flowers with many long stamens, wind- or insect-pollinated, attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

Propagation occurs by seed or rhizome divisions; wild seed germination is low, requiring stratification and sowing soon after ripening. The plant prefers moist, humus-rich, acidic soils in shady to partly shaded habitats and is hardy in USDA zones 6–9; as a groundcover it forms patches and tolerates drought once established. Ethnobotany notes among Pacific Northwest tribes include leaf infusions for tuberculosis, crushed-plant infusions as an emetic, decoctions as hair washes and to remove lice or bedbugs, and dried leaves hung to repel flies and mosquitoes; root infusions have been used to treat eye conditions. Sources document these propagation characteristics and traditional uses.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

8-16 inches

Spread

1-4 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 7-9

Sunlight Requirements

Partial Shade to Full Shade.

Soil Type

Moist, well-drained, humus-rich soil

Soil Drainage

Moist but well-drained

Soil pH

5.3-6.1, acidic soil

Bloom Color

White

Bloom Time

Spring to Summer

Foliage Color

Green, gold (golden in autumn)

Fall Foliage Color

Yellow (gold) in autumn

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Unknown

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Summer

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Division

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators