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Hierochloe odorata, Anthoxanthum nitens
SWEET GRASS, VANILLA GRASS, HOLY GRASS
SKU: 2323-010
Hierochloe odorata or Anthoxanthum nitens is commonly known as sweet grass, manna grass, Mary's grass or vanilla grass, holy grass, or bison grass is an aromatic herb native to northern Eurasia and North America. It is considered sacred by many Indigenous peoples in Canada and the United States. It is used as a smudge in herbal medicine. It owes its distinctive sweet scent to the presence of coumarin.
Hierochloe odorata is a very hardy perennial, able to grow in the Arctic Circle. In North America Hierochloe odorata occurs in southern Canada, northern Great Plains/Rocky Mountains and northwest of U.S., and New England. In continental Europe it occurs north from Switzerland. There is only one site in Ireland, and it is recorded in four counties of Scotland and one in north-eastern England.
Sweetgrass is widely used by Indigenous peoples from many different Nations in North America. The Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) tribes have been known to use sweetgrass in a variety of ways, such as basketry, ceremonial smudging, incense, perfume, and herbal medicine. Among many of the Indigenous peoples of the Great Plains and Canadian Prairies it is considered one of the "four sacred medicines". Though being used for many purposes, its main two purposes for many tribes are to attract good spirits and as a natural mosquito repellent. Two chemicals found in sweetgrass, phytol and coumarin, repel mosquitoes.
Type: Hardy perennial
Hardiness zones: 4-8
Height: 40cm, 16"
Location: Sun
Seeds per packet: 10
Hierochloe odorata or Anthoxanthum nitens is commonly known as sweet grass, manna grass, Mary's grass or vanilla grass, holy grass, or bison grass is an aromatic herb native to northern Eurasia and North America. It is considered sacred by many Indigenous peoples in Canada and the United States. It is used as a smudge in herbal medicine. It owes its distinctive sweet scent to the presence of coumarin.
Hierochloe odorata is a very hardy perennial, able to grow in the Arctic Circle. In North America Hierochloe odorata occurs in southern Canada, northern Great Plains/Rocky Mountains and northwest of U.S., and New England. In continental Europe it occurs north from Switzerland. There is only one site in Ireland, and it is recorded in four counties of Scotland and one in north-eastern England.
Sweetgrass is widely used by Indigenous peoples from many different Nations in North America. The Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) tribes have been known to use sweetgrass in a variety of ways, such as basketry, ceremonial smudging, incense, perfume, and herbal medicine. Among many of the Indigenous peoples of the Great Plains and Canadian Prairies it is considered one of the "four sacred medicines". Though being used for many purposes, its main two purposes for many tribes are to attract good spirits and as a natural mosquito repellent. Two chemicals found in sweetgrass, phytol and coumarin, repel mosquitoes.
Type: Hardy perennial
Hardiness zones: 4-8
Height: 40cm, 16"
Location: Sun
Seeds per packet: 10
