The Vanilla Vine

Vanilla planifolia, a member of the Orchid Family (Orchidaceae) is the primary species of orchid grown commercially to produce the very expensive vanilla extract. This orchid is actually a vine which starts out in the shade and grows up the trunks of trees, eventually flowering, when it gets high enough up in the tree it is growing on. This species is native to Mexico and Central America where it is naturally pollinated by the Melipona Bee. Everywhere else in the world vanilla is commercially grown, the tedious procedure of hand pollination must be used to produce vanilla beans. This is the main reason vanilla extract is so expensive. For more details on growing and producing vanilla beans in S. Florida I suggest going to this IFAS article: HS1348/HS1348: Vanilla Cultivation in Southern Florida (ufl.edu)

Richard Lyons Nursery currently has Vanilla planifolia vines for sale.