Hierochloe odorata – Sweet Grass – Poaceae (The Grass Family)

Description Hierochloe odorata, commonly known as sweet grass, is a sacred plant of many Indigenous peoples of North America especially across Canada. When the foliage is dried it has a sweet vanilla-like scent thanks to the presence of coumarin. In the garden sweet grass offers subtle beauty, texture, and architecture. It has slender, green to greyish green, arching blades and feathery flower spikes that appear in early summer and almost shimmer when in motion. Makes a fantastic companion plant to Echinacea, lupins, Helenium and milkweed. This grass spreads slowly via rhizomes and thrives in evenly moist, well-drained soils in full sun but can handle partial shade.