Which plant is the botanical source of the spice and food flavoring vanilla?

Vanilla planifolia is the main orchid species that supplies commercial vanilla flavoring.

Vanilla planifolia is a climbing orchid native to Mexico and parts of Central America. Its long, narrow fruits are commonly called vanilla beans, although botanically they are capsules. After harvest, the fruits undergo curing, including heating, sweating, drying, and conditioning, which develops their familiar aroma.

In its native range, the flowers are associated with pollination by specialized bees. Commercial growers often pollinate flowers by hand because the natural pollinators are absent from many production regions. Madagascar became a major producer after vanilla was introduced there.

Vanilla planifolia is not the only vanilla species used for flavoring. Vanilla × tahitensis is also cultivated, but Vanilla planifolia remains the principal commercial source. Vanilla is an orchid product, unlike cinnamon, which comes mainly from tree bark.