Vanilla is an evergreen vine that can reach up to 15m in length. It has thick stems and greenish to yellow flowers. The fruits are long, thin pods that contain thousands of tiny, black seeds. Vanilla has fleshy aerial roots that cling to trees and allow it to climb.
Vanilli perekonnas on sadakond liiki liaane, neist kuulsaim Mehhikost pärit harilik vanill (Vanilla planifolia). Vanilli saadakse kahe käpaliste sugukonda kuuluva liaani viljadest: harilik vanill ja lühikaunaline vanill.
