Sweetgrass - Hierochloe odorata

 

Other Names:
	Hierochloe borealis ((Schrad.)Roem.&Schult.) Anthoxanthum nitens, Hierochloe fragrans, Hierochloe nashii, Holcus odoratus, Savastana nashii, Savastana odorata, Torresia odorata, Hierochloe odorata var. fragrans
	Sweetgrass, holy grass, buffalo grass, Vanilla grass, Manna grass, Seneca grass, Mary's Grass, Zebrovka (in Western Canada - from the Ukrainian)
	Hierochloé odorante, herbe aux Sénécas, foin d'odeur, herbe sainte.
	Festgræs
	Feur Moire
	Wisent-gras (Wisent = buffalo), Veenreukgras, Reukgras
	Duftmariengras
	Maarianheinät (hierochloe spp), Lännenmaarianheinä (H.odorata)
	Marigras
	Ängsmyskgräs
	Zubrovka (= the place where bison graze)
	Tomka vonná
	Turówka wonna, ubrówka

Botany: 

Taxonomy: familia Poaceae  
Habit: Very hardy native perennial. Native to North America as well as Europe. Grows to about 60 cm in height, leaves grow 60 cm long by late summer.  Base of leaves, just below soil surface is broad and white, without hairs, underside of leaves are shiny, no hairs

Propagation: Easiest by cutting out plugs from established plants.  Grow in sun or partial shade, they do not like drought.

Distribution: Northern America: Canada; New England States. Asia-Temperate: Europe: from Switzerland north. Only one site in Ireland, and four counties in Scotland; making it very rare in the British Isles.

 (dist map)

Associates: Balsam Fir, Red Maple, Paper Birch, Tamarack, White Spruce, Black Spruce, Jack Pine, Red Pine, White Pine, Balsam Poplar, Quaking Aspen, Northern Pin Oak.

Harvesting: Cut grass in early to late summer at the desired length, hang to dry n sun for a few days. To make braids, simply place the dried sweetgrass in warm water for a few minutes, braid and hang out of the sun to dry. Sweetgrass harvested after the first frost has little or no scent.

Uses: Very widely used by North American indigenous peoples.  A Sacred plant, used in peace and healing rituals. Leaves are dried and made into braids and burned as vanilla-scented incense; long leaves of sterile shoots are used by Native Americans in making baskets.
Coumarin content gives the fragrance, used as incense and in making perfume.

Culinary: 

Some earlier uses; not recommended. Used in France to flavor candy, tobacco, soft drinks, and perfumes. 

Spiritual

• (European traditions): It was strewn before church doors on saints' days in northern Europe [English, Moira. 1982. Sweet grass--a sacred herb. Herbarist. 48: 5-9. ]. Widely used in neo-pagan practice (syncretized from North American indigenous practice)

• Properties: Purifying, centering.

• (American Aboriginal traditions) Natives of the Great Plains believe it was the first plant to cover Mother Earth. The Anishinabe Natives believe it is a purifier, and burn sweetgrass before all ceremonies. It is a reminder to respect the earth and all things it provides. 

  • Used in ceremonial items by Blackfoot and Lakota peoples

  • Incense used by at least the Blackfoot, Cheyenne,  Dakota, Kiowa, Lakota, Menominee, Montana, Ojibwe, Omaha, Pawnee, Ponca, Sioux, and Winnebago peoples.  Used for purification, as oblations to ancestors, for protection of spirits, and keeping out of evil and harm. Used in a variety of ceremonies including peace ceremonies and initiations.

• Comment: Sweetgrass has a mellow, almost sopoforic effect, and for many is a useful aid to entering a meditative state. Interestingly enough, it appears that coumarin, although not known to possess psychotropic effects, is a common denominator among a number of herbs used ritually which have strong anecdotal evidence for at least mild psychotropic properties. 

Cosmetic/Aromatic: 

Used by Blackfoot, Cheyenne, Kiowa, Lakota, Montana, Okanagan-Colville, Omaha, and Thompson for cosmetic and aromatic purposes. Blackfoot and Gros Ventre use Leaves soaked in water and used as a hairwash. 

Medicinal

• (European traditions): none noted
• (American Aboriginal traditions):
  • Sweet grass tea and smoke were used for coughs and sore throats (Flathead, Blackfoot).
  • Teas as wash to treat chapping and windburn, and as an eyewash. 
  • Blackfoot chewed grass as a means of extended endurance in ceremonies involving prolonged fasting. 

Other Uses

• Iroquois, Kiowa, Malecite, Menominee, and Micmac people  (amongst others) use sweetgrass in basketry (including mats) and crafts

• Kiowa use fragrant leaves as stuffing for pillows and mattresses. 

• Used for sewing at least by Menominee

• Used as body & hair decoration/perfume by Blackfoot, Flathead, and Thompson

• Used as an incense to "keep the bugs away." by Flathead

• Used by Cheyenne to paint pipes in the Sun Dance and the Sacred Arrow ceremonies.  

Last edited 11 February 2002