Sweet Grass is a cool-season grass that spreads easily by rhizome to form a patch. Known for its aromatic vanilla-scented leaves, it is used in indigenous North American ceremonies to attract …
Sweet Grass is a cool-season grass that spreads easily by rhizome to form a patch. Known for its aromatic vanilla-scented leaves, it is burned and used ceremonially in North American indigenous cultures to attract good spirits. It can be harvested, braided and burned as ‘smudge.’
Occurring naturally in wetlands, or prairies and savannas with medium-wet soils, Sweet Grass requires a rich moist soil and at least 6 hours sun a day. Heirochloe odorata is somewhat aggressive and should be planted where it can spread naturally, as it can be difficult to remove it, once it becomes established.
Native plants can be grown outside of their native range in the appropriate growing conditions. This map shows the native range, as well as the introduced range, of this species.
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Can I plant Sweet Grass in midsummer, with it being a cool season garss, or wait until fall? (in central North Carolina)
You should be able to plant in summer, as long as the Sweet Grass has consistently moist soil -- don't let it dry out. The addition of mulch will help conserve and regulate soil moisture.
Can I plant Vanilla Sweet Grass and Copper- Shouldered Sedge (carex bicknellii) together? I read that the Sweet Grass can overtake other plants.
Sweetgrass is the more agressive of the two. It can spread about 2 feet per year by underground rhizomes and can be difficult to eliminate if it spreads into areas where it is not wanted.
Don't plant them in an intermixed manner. If they are intermixed the sweetgrass could easily out-compete the Carex bicknellii. Instead, plant them adjacently, but in separate stands. It will be easier to control the spread of sweetgrass if it has visually clear boundaries that you can keep an eye on.
It says zone 7. But I see none listed in NC. Is it too hot down here for it?
Most of North Carolina is too hot for this Northern grass species. If you are in the portion of NC that is within Zone 7, it should be fine. A consistently MOIST soil is needed. Sweet Grass likes a moist site, and this would be even more true in a hot location. This grass does spread easily by rhizome, when it is happy.
Would this be a good choice for the strip between the street and sidewalk?
Probably not, but only because Sweet Grass prefers a moist setting. The area between the sidewalk and street is typically dry. Prairie grasses such as Sideoats grama,Prairie Dropseed, and Little Bluestem can be successful in the "strip," if soil drainage is good.
If I wanted to contain Vanilla Sweet grass to a particular space, how deep underground would I need to place a barrier to contain the rhizomes from spreading outside my selected area?
Sweet Grass roots are typically 10 inches deep or less. A barrier of at least 12" (one foot) should contain/control most of the rhizomatous spread.
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