Sweet Grass
A lovely scented, cool-season grass native to North America, sweet grass has long been valued for a multitude of traditional uses due to its incredibly fragrant leaves that have a sweet, almost vanilla-like aroma to them. Spreads via rhizome so be sure you plant it somewhere that you want it permanently and where it has room to roam as it can be difficult to remove after establishment. Grows in a variety of habitats, from savannah to wetlands and can be harvested in mid to late summer when its aroma is strongest.
Latin Name: Anthoxanthum odoratum, syn. Anthoxanthum nitens or Hierochloe odoratum
Site and Soil: Full to part sun and well-drained soil.
Hardiness: Hardy to -40° F.
Size at Maturity: 1′ in height by 6-8′ feet wide eventually
Bloom Time: late spring long blooming
Pests & Diseases: No pests or diseases that we’ve seen on our plants here in Portland.
USDA Zone: 3